Testing campus wastewater for Covid-19 virus

Sewage testing has been used in the U.S. for detection of other diseases in the past, such as polio. Since about 80% of households are connected to a central sewerage collection, in this time of pandemic it is reasonable to conduct sewage surveillance in order to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes Covid-19 illness. The virus is shed in the feces of individuals even before they start showing symptoms. 

A student worker is collecting a sewage sample on the OU campus to test for the coronavirus.

Dr. Jason Vogel, a WaTER Center co-director and Director of the Oklahoma Water Survey, has been collecting sewage samples on the University of Oklahoma (OU) campus for early detection of the virus. The samples are collected downstream of campus student housing during after-lunch hours (12 noon to 2 pm) when the wastewater flow rate is highest. 

Student workers collecting sewage samples follow strict health and safety protocols so that they themselves will not get infected.

OU microbiologist Associate Professor, Bradley Stevenson, is heading the program and studies of the samples, which typically have a 24-hour turnaround time. Dr. Stevenson says that “this (method) definitely can be an early warning....What we’re doing is actually monitoring the levels of COVID-19 in the wastewater,” Stevenson said. “When an individual has COVID-19, they shed the virus through their feces and we can actually detect that.” This is a method that can both show trends over time and provide an early warning system, about 3-7 days prior to a normal detection protocol using onset of symptoms. In addition, the RNA laboratory testing is a non-invasive form of detection as compared to clinical testing. 

Private water providers in rural Ghana

How well does a small privately-owned business provide safe water to a rural community in west Africa? What are the benefits as well as the challenges? These are the questions that led to Philip Deal’s research in the ecologically-diverse country of Ghana. 

Hand pumping of water from a drilled borehole is still a very common method of water acquisition in Ghana.

Governments and NGOs across the world have observed countless handpumps and piped systems falling into disrepair, despite billions of dollars of investment into the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) sector. In opposition to this challenge, Water4 (an NGO based in Oklahoma City) set out to develop a sustainable model of building, operating, and maintaining safe water enterprises through their Numa water delivery kiosks. These kiosks became the product of a private water service company, Access Development (AD), in Ghana, West Africa. 

The water delivery system pumps water to a tank using solar power, disinfects the water with UV and chlorine disinfection, and supplies water to a kiosk where it is sold to local villagers. The borehole is owned by the community, but the pump and treatment center are owned by AD. Customers ‘pay‐to‐fetch’ vendors for their water with cash - 0.20 GHS per 18 L - equivalent to less than a cent per gallon.

Numa piped system network.

This water delivery kiosk provides clean water to Ghanaian villagers for a small fee

The goals of the water delivery system are to:

• increase the reliability and functionality of the systems,

• reduce the time needed to respond to breakdowns, and 

• increase the revenue for these water systems so as to provide more long-term management.

Customers ‘pay‐to‐fetch’ vendors for their water with cash - 0.20 GHS per 18 L, equivalent to about 3 cents, less than a penny per gallon.

Private water service delivery is a result of a partnership between the University of Oklahoma, Water4, and Access Development. Pictured (left to right): Dr. David Sabatini, Mr. Wellington Amankwa, Dr. Philip Deal, Mr. Philip Aratuo

Ghana is a water-rich country and was found to have a sustainable supply of groundwater to meet domestic water supply. However, more mechanized drilling would be needed to make this water available to more people. 

Philip discovered that Access Development was giving equal or superior service to its customers, both poor and rich, compared to traditional water systems. Water had significantly better quality and was consistently available throughout the year. Yet, only about 35% to 40% of the population was using Numa water. With ongoing competition from free alternatives and seasonal challenges of affordability, customers would not always choose to use Access Development’s water service. Low residual chlorine for secondary disinfection was also found to be an area for improvement.

Water queue in Ghana observes social distancing during the pandemic.

As of the Fall of 2020, Access Development has grown to serve almost 90,000 people. The private company has plans to expand to more districts in Ghana in 2021, while other partners in Sierra Leone and Zambia are growing rapidly as well. Philip is now the Director of Community Engagement at Water4, where he is able to continue serving and supporting safe water enterprises in 15 different countries.

 A kiosk vendor is happy to serve you!

Building a wave-powered water pump in Tanzania

John Makonda lives in Geita, Tanzania, just south of Lake Victoria. Since Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa, many view the lake as an economic resource or a local recreation spot. However, John Makonda sees the lake as an experimental playground for the testing of his new wave-powered water pump.

John Makonda is testing his water pumping device on magnificent Lake Victoria.

Beginning in 2014, John has dedicated himself to the careful design and development of the pump which utilizes the upward and downward motions of a buoy connected to a lever in order to pump water as if it were a hand pump being operated by an invisible hand. The following sketches exemplify John’s attention to detail and his well-thought-out design.

Sketch of original design - Leonardo da Vinci would be proud!

These sketches are examples of John's creative impulse.

Since then, John has been able to build a prototype that shows promising results. Without schooling nor training, John gracefully manipulated the concepts of buoyancy, pressure head, and hydraulics in his invention which could prove to be extremely useful in the development of new water distribution systems. Since John’s pump is powered by the constant rise and fall of Lake Victoria, this could significantly decrease the cost and energy required to pump water from the lake to surrounding communities. Increasing populations in not only Tanzania, but Uganda and Kenya, will further expose the significance of John’s wave-powered water pump as the demand for potable drinking water rises.

John builds efficient cookstoves in his outdoor workshop, alongside a treadle pump.

Many who have come before John have tried to harness energy from the visibly powerful waves of the ocean with the likes of underground turbines. However, John Makonda takes a different approach, reminding us once again of the power of innovative thinking. His hard work and dedication will bring forth a new technology that can then be utilized by communities in search of a cost and energy efficient method of pumping freshwater inland.

John Makonda is a designer and innovator of appropriate technologies in central Africa.

Well done, John, and keep up the good work!

SPOTLIGHT ON A PARTNER: Marc and Ann Hall - still changing lives in Cambodia

The WaTER Center was first introduced to Marc and Ann Hall back in 2010 when this young married couple came to give a talk on campus about the life they chose to live in Cambodia. Cambodia is a beautiful land with a people who welcome visitors with a smile. But the country has also been struck with war and corruption resulting in illiteracy, lack of water and sanitation, and disease. These are the challenges that Marc and Ann work to overcome, with the help of Resource Development International - Cambodia (RDIC), as together they create and implement creative solutions for drinking water in the home and in the communities. 

RDIC ceramic water filters are built onsite and distributed to villagers, along with soap and illustrated hygiene information. 

The core of the RDIC strategy is built on local relationships with the Cambodian people. Team members and their families live in the villages and get to know the local people. By doing so, personal bonds are created and friends are made. From these friendships, various projects are implemented to serve the immediate community that the team lives in. While gardening and raising animals as well as working side by side and teaching friends in the villages, the team is able to meet immediate needs while education takes place. 

In pre-pandemic days, Ann Hall shares both her nursing skills and her faith with the Cambodian women.

On a larger scale, the community is served by technology improvements. When the group is asked to help install a water system at a school, or build toilets or sinks, they take the opportunity to offer an education program to the schools as well. This adds an additional personal touch.

Marc Hall instructs a worker at the RDIC ceramic water filter factory in Cambodia.

On the national level the RDIC studio produces TV and radio programming that is released on national television, radio and into the local marketplace. And on the international level, RDIC relies on help from individuals and groups who volunteer from abroad. During these short term trips many people understand and commit to the vision RDIC has developed. In fact, many of the current full-time RDIC staff joined RDIC after a short term trip to Cambodia.

The Covid pandemic has reached remote villages in which RDIC's teams are active, highlighting the need for masking and social distancing.

Mark and Ann are driven by both their love for the Cambodian people and the desire to share their faith in Christ. The couple leads prayer sessions and prepares teams to teach in both the schools and in the homes. Using her training as a nurse, Ann has treated many Cambodians who suffer from waterborne diseases and malnutrition. Much of her work is doing health and hygiene education regarding hydration and nutrition, so essential to these villagers with limited access to medical resources. In past years, the WaTER Center has sent both graduate and undergraduate students to work with RDIC on various projects, including the mitigation of arsenic-contaminated waters and the construction of ferrocement rainwater tanks. 

Ann and Marc Hall are holding a precious newborn baby in Cambodia.