While Tufts students won’t be responsible for construction, the group is planning to visit the school this coming August, to meet the community members and help the contractors with the building process. They hope to start construction around June, said Harrington and Wan. While Tufts EWB is responsible for the design, they are working with a local contractor selected by the national EWB program to construct the new system. The solar pump, tank, and system of pipes have not been built yet. “Wherever students are, they can just turn the faucet and water will come right out,” said Harrington. Photo: Courtesy of Tom Depalma and Emma Inhorn With help from Tufts Engineering Without Borders students, this water pump with be replaced by a solar-powered one. The elevation of the water tank will provide the water pressure needed for water to flow through the pipes and into the school.Ī water pump in Solomoni, Malawi.

In addition to the pipe system, the team plans to replace the hand pump with a solar-powered pump, which will pump groundwater into a new, elevated water tank. The project will also provide water to the living quarters of about 20 teachers who live on school grounds. The network of pipes will bring running water to the bathrooms, kitchens, and science labs, meaning the school’s 1,500 students won’t have to stop their lessons just to get water, said Natasha Wan, a sophomore studying biomedical engineering and the other project leader for the Malawi group. The goal is to reduce the time it takes, so they can stay in school longer,” said Harrington.Īs a solution to the water access problem, the Tufts EWB team partnered with Joshua Orphan and Community Care, a nonprofit focused on helping vulnerable children and their communities in Malawi, to design a system of pipes and faucets to provide running water within the school.

“A lot of people have to walk a long time to get water. Since lots of activities, like cleaning breakfast dishes, hydrating, and washing hands, require water, the location of the pump is inconvenient, and retrieving water interrupts the school day.

Running Water for School ChildrenĪt the primary and secondary schools in Solomoni, Malawi, students and teachers have to leave school to access an outside water pump. “It feels great to be able to take on these projects,” said Max Harrington, a sophomore studying biomedical engineering and a project leader on the Malawi project. A group of Tufts undergraduates aren’t waiting until graduation to put their skills to use solving real-world problems.Īs part of the Tufts chapter of Engineers Without Borders, a nationwide program that connects engineering students with projects in underserved communities, a group of undergraduates is working to improve water access in Solomoni, Malawi, and Silvio Mayorga, Nicaragua.

Pipe system designer for young students