Honduras World Water Corps Mission

E.R. - I have been involved in international development for years and supported several water and sanitation projects in Western Africa. But this time was the first for me to be among the team acting on field. I was especially interested in this mission because it combines large population coverage with challenging technical issues. It appeared to me as an awesome opportunity to serve sustainability and get a broader view of engineering. I undertook this mission also because I was really attracted by the World Water Corps program. I think Water for People is a great organization. Very well organized, it inspires willingness to act but always with the care to get involved in local projects only. Our team delivered technical expertise while the leadership in the project was held by Honduran administrative people, supported by Water for People Honduras. Finally, the financial support as well as encouragements received from John Meunier Inc. made it possible for me to take part in this mission.

E.R. - Health-threatening arsenic and heavy metals levels had been measured in groundwater supplied to four municipalities near San Pedro Sula: Villanueva, Potrerillos, Pimienta and San Manuel. Jointly, these communities gather close to 50,000 people. Water for People Honduras, established in the country since 1996, suggested using bank-filtered surface water from the Ulua River as an alternative water supply. Simultaneously, people working for a national water sector modernization program called "Promosas", were examining the situation of these municipalities to include them in their action plan. They might be awarded an important loan from the World Bank. In this context open to change, the following twofold goal had been set for our World Water Corps team: determine the feasibility of a bank filtration and assess existing distribution systems of the four municipalities.

E.R. - We were four engineers selected by Water for People for the mission:
- Steve, from Kentucky, a retired engineer from the Louisville public water company.
- Mark, from Arizona, a consulting engineer in environmental services.
- Ara, a friend of mine, from Quebec, a consulting engineer in urban infrastructures.
- And myself, a Frenchman living in Quebec and working as an application engineer for John Meunier Inc - Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies.

We had an excellent team spirit which allowed us to be efficient in a friendly atmosphere. On site, we split the team into two sub-groups: Steve and I studied the riverbed and banks to identify sites with the best potential for bank filtration whereas Mark and Ara browsed and analyzed distribution systems of the four municipalities.

E.R. - Absolutely. I even think we are all accountable for international development. But if you are someone who shows strong interest in other cultures, wants to make a difference for more equity and work hard for it, no doubt this kind of assignment is for you. Such an experience gives a chance to test your interpersonal and problem-solving skills in a wider range of situations. I know it developed my awareness and made me grow. That is not over because there is still a lot to do and I will be supporting this project for months and years to come. Finally, I find it very motivating and rewarding to help people improve their life conditions and progress on the path of development. It's a source of meaning that enriches my own life.