Back

Water Supply and Management on the Galapagos

Current water situation in Galapagos

• Water scarce.  Presence due to rainfall between Jan. and June (rainy season).  Amt. of rainfall varies year to year and island to island.  Greatest variation due to altitude - more wet in highlands (where the tortoises are!)
• Underground pools on older islands: San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, and Santa Maria.  Water accumulated in pockets and caverns formed by 1000's of years of erosion.
• Water treatment plant on San Cristobal
  

Proctor & Redfern International (Ontario-based firm) retained by Ecuadorian gov't to design water supply and distribution system and wastewater treatment and disposal system

• Came out with an Environmental Study Report - I need to get my hands on this!  Hard to find.
• Considerations for drinking water: search groundwater resources because currently too high chloride content and poor bacteriological quality.  Challenge: difficult to drill well through lava surface.
• Considerations for wastewater: seach for an "outfall" location - Academy Bay?  Promising possibility: Solar aquatics system.
• Reference: http://www.esemag.com/1197/galapago.html
  

Solar Aquatics System (SAS)

• Wastewater purification that is enviro-friendly and ideal for small communities w/ septic tanks and for remote tourist facilities.  BINGO.
• Technology description: plants, snails, microorganisms in aquatic environments metabolize and bind up wastewater contaminants.  Treatment capacity up to serving 20,000 people/day.  Potential for water reuse.
• More: http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/programs/3354e29.pdf
  

Rain Harvesting

• "Talas" or "khundi" in India: open place 100 m in diameter, sloped down to center where covered well is located.  From just 10 cm (4 in) annual rainfall in Jaisalmer district, 1 million L water available.
• Wells to catch rain collected on roofs.  Could be household water supply.

Misc. find

• Seawater farms.  Since most Galapagos land is unarable, crops grown in seawater might be an alternative way for villagers to make money or produce food.  Crops include fish, lumber, and nutritrous plant called Salicornia
• Reference: http://www.ecoworld.org/Water/articles/articles2.cfm?TID=336
  

MIT possible contacts

• Course 1: Civil & Environmetal Engineering
• 1.070 J Intro to Hydrology: D. Entekhabi

MIT library books to check out

• Spellman, Frank R.  Handbook of water & wastewater treatment plant operators.  Barker Library Stacks | TD434.S64 2003
• Water Treatment Plant Design/American Water Works Association.  TD430.AS124 1998
• Water treatment plant design for the practicing engineer.  TD430.W374
• Potable water from wastewater. PD429.P67
  

Notes compiled 11/11/04