Nepal project diary
Two Gifford specialists, senior environmental scientist Phil Costello and senior surveyor Jon Fletcher, have travelled to Northern Nepal to assist Okhle Village Trust with three local-scale projects in a group of remote villages.
Week 3 – Conclusion and Return
03/12/2008
We had four aims for our final week. The first was to survey the path that leads from the spring we were ‘tapping’ as a source for Kot Guan’s water supply to the col above, and then down to the village itself. The second was to survey the village so that a main tank site could be identified, enabling as much of the village to benefit from a gravity fed distribution system as possible. Thirdly, it was necessary to prepare the spring by clearing out all debris and constructing a catchment basin and head wall so that the water could be piped to a collection tank. We also needed to complete the pump system and plans for the proposed distribution system in Raipali.
The pipeline survey was awkward, time-consuming and frankly dangerous. There were shear drops beside the path and it was rarely possible to see more than 20-30 metres ahead. But we completed the survey and drew up the plan. We designed the proposed pipe route so that there were no peaks or troughs in the pipe as it rose from the spring to the col, 30 metres above. Previous projects in the surrounding villages have suffered from airlocks. We marked out the proposed pipe route with stakes and bright red nail varnish. We’re not sure who was more embarrassed when we bought the nail varnish, us or the shopkeeper. No matter how hard we tried we couldn’t convince anyone that it was actually for engineering purpose. It was very effective, nevertheless.
The survey of the village took three days but we found the right tank site. As in Raipali, we chose a site on an agricultural terrace above the majority of dwellings. To progress the project in our absence, the villagers of Kot Guan will need to clear vegetation from the pipe route and dig a trench for the pipe. Two tanks also need to be constructed; a small, low capacity collection tank at the spring and a main storage tank at the village. The cost of materials for the project will be raised from donations to the Okhle Village Trust. The aim is for the villagers to get this work done in the next couple of years so that when mains electricity is brought to the village, it will be possible to bring the electricity supply over to the spring and install the pump and get the system up and running.
The pump system at Raipali was finished off with a nice set of bespoke handles, which made operating the pump far easier. We both took part in the doubles event of the ‘One Minute Pump Challenge’ and are pleased to announce the Gifford coxless pair were clear winners, pumping 14.2 litres to the top of the hill.
Plans for the water distribution system in Raipali are finalised and agreed with members of the village. The routes for the pipelines have been set out and the construction of the distribution system, taps and storage tank will be left to the villagers to complete with further donations from the Okhle Village Trust for materials.
We were invited over to Raipali on our penultimate night by the villagers who wanted to thank us for our help. We were fed to bursting and then encouraged to dance along to the live music and singing. Fortunately there was also plenty of the local rice wine, Rhaksi, to help summon up our courage and perhaps provide an excuse for our lack of dancing skills.
We’ve returned to the UK and are both missing the simple life in the village that doesn’t have mobile phone reception or internet access. But in truth life in the villages is hard and the entire family works to fetch water, harvest crops and keep livestock. Many children do not finish their education because they are needed at home for farming and providing for the rest of the family. Our hope is that by designing systems for getting drinking water to the villages, it may mean that one essential task is taken out of the daily routine which will improve the chances for the children to continue in education.
Week 2 – Raipali and Kot Guan
25/11/2008
We have spent the majority of our time here working on the water pumping and distribution system for Raipali.
Raipali is located approximately 80m above a ground water spring, on the opposite side of a hill. The project involves the installation of a system to pump the water from a small storage tank up to the village, and then its distribution via a proposed top storage tank to taps located around the village.
A level survey has been carried out to ascertain the exact height differences between the pump and the proposed top tank, to ensure that the pressure head does not exceed the pump and pipe work rating. A topographical and demographic survey was then undertaken in the village to determine the best locations for the taps and pipe work for the distribution system.
From our surveys we identified a nearby farm as being at the optimum height to build up a head of pressure and serve most of the village by a gravity feed system. Foundations have been excavated along the far terrace to ensure the ground conditions are suitable for the 16 tonnes of water in the top tank.
The pump has been installed along with the pipe work to the location of the top tank, and the system tested. Excavations for the footings for the top tank have been completed and a local storage tank engineer has visited the site to provide a quote.
Construction of the top tank and installation of the distribution system will be left to the villagers to complete based on plans that we will leave behind. Water quality testing has shown that storing the spring water in the tank allows effective settlement of minor impurities.
Meanwhile, over in Kot Guan we consulted the villagers and found that the volume of water requiring storage during the dry season to supply all 300 of them will be too much to be practical. Instead, we have identified a spring some 600m away and so we have started to design a pumping system to transfer water from the spring on the other side of the hill to the village. Surveys were required so that we could negotiate bedrock to the valley below and raise the water to 30m at the highest point. A pipe route has been designed and set out and the final days of this work will be spent preparing the route and the water catchment basin at the spring.
With the exception of one upset stomach and one sprained ankle, we are greatly enjoying the trip and the hard work required in this environment.
Week 1 – Arrival in Nepal
17/11/2008
We arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday 11th November to be greeted by Bimal, the Nepali representative from Okhle Village Trust. We were left to our own devices for the afternoon so we had the opportunity to walk around the city. It took a while to accustomise ourselves to the Nepali Highway Code but we did manage to avoid being knocked down by the swarms of motorbikes and cars. It’s a good job that we’re not here to work on transport planning or air quality!
On Wednesday we took the eight hour white knuckle bus trip to Okhle, arriving at sunset to an amazing traditional welcome from the villagers.
Thursday and Friday have been spent visiting the local villages and the specific projects that we will be working on. Generous donations have been given to the schools’ and mothers’ committees in the area, including a number of sewing machines for the mothers’ committee in Okhle. Every village is incredibly welcoming, greeting us with food and gifts. As repayment we have treated them to some very poor dancing as the wives’ committees accompany us with music and singing.
The local population lives at subsistence level with many of the men travelling to other villages or living in Kathmandu to earn money. For the projects we’re helping to design and build, the villagers are being employed on the construction with donations from Okhle Village Trust.
We start work on the water pump system tomorrow (November 15th), and will conduct a level survey to calculate pressure heads and optimize the distribution points.