May 23, 2022 marked the start of operation of the newest AguaClara plant in Waslala, Nicaragua. This project represents the culmination of more than 5 years of organization, networking, fundraising, design, sourcing supplies, and a full construction project, to make the dream of safe water on tap for more Nicaraguan communities a reality.
Image of the 24 L/s AguaClara plant in Waslala, Nicaragua. Water flows from the right (entrance tank) through the flocculator channels (middle) to the clarifier bays (left).
The journey started on January 9, 2017 when AguaClara Reach Technical Director, Monroe Weber-Shirk, gave a presentation on AguaClara technologies for a delegation of Nicaraguans including representatives from the towns of La Concordia and San Rafael. This event included a tour of the 16 L/s AguaClara plant in Morocelí, Honduras.
A delegation of Nicaraguans touring the AguaClara plant in Morocelí, Honduras in 2017.
Some time later, WaterAid representatives learned about AguaClara technology on a tour organized by Water For People of the San Rafael del Norte AguaClara plant, and by January 2020, WaterAid planned to construct a 24 L/s AguaClara plant in Waslala. They reached out to Water For People to learn how the plants at San Rafael del Norte and La Concordia went from idea to successful operation. A year later, WaterAid approved financing for the Waslala plant.
WaterAid engaged Agua Para el Pueblo (APP) to design and build the Waslala plant and to train the plant operators. During the design process, APP requested an improved entrance tank design from AguaClara Reach that would have lower flow velocities (for more precise chemical dosing) and a shallower tank to make the trash rack easier to clean. AguaClara Reach used the AguaClara Infrastructure Design Engine (AIDE) to quickly create an improved entrance tank design and shared it with APP, who integrated it into their existing AutoCAD designs for a 24 L/s plant.
Entrance tank with raw water entering at the left, passing through a trash rack, and then exiting at the far end through the linear flow orifice meter (LFOM), as indicated by blue arrows.
APP also worked to create a complete project site design including all structural and architectural components. The Waslala project site presented a hydraulic challenge due to the location of Waslala’s water storage tank at the top of a knoll. Since AguaClara technology is powered by gravity, the plant needed to be located at a higher elevation than the water storage tank. Placing the AguaClara plant on top of the water storage tank wasn’t feasible because it would have required extensive reinforcement of that structure. The solution proposed and implemented by APP was to elevate the AguaClara Plant on a concrete platform. APP produced the final design in February 2021.
Side view of the north side of the Waslala AguaClara plant showing the entrance tank, two flocculator channels, and four clarifier bays. The tanks are elevated above the original ground surface.
Construction began on August 10, 2021 under supervision of an APP engineer, technician, and foreman, and was completed less than a year later.
Now, the Waslala AguaClara plant is bringing safe water on tap to the community of over 1,000 families.
Interview with Rosa Godoy, AguaClara plant operator.
The Waslala project illustrates how community-scale infrastructure often requires a network of organizations with complementary strengths to bring a project from idea to reality.
Water For People connected organizations and shared the dream of more Nicaraguan towns with AguaClara plants. WaterAid had connections in Waslala and provided the funding that is one of the most challenging ingredients for successful projects. The Mayor’s Office of Waslala also provided important funding to the project. APP designed and built the plant, provided project management, and trained plant operators. AguaClara Cornell provided the hydraulic design for the plant, and AguaClara Reach provided an improved hydraulic design for the entrance tank.
AguaClara Reach is honored to be part of global efforts towards safe water on tap.
Blog Post Authors: Emily Wood and Monroe Weber-Shirk