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James Debono
Just a year ago, Sri Lanka was hit by a tsunami wave which not only took away thousands of human lives but also broke down the infrastructure providing the water supply to millions of people living in coastal areas on the island.
Three weeks ago, Maltese water engineer Marco Cremona visited Sri Lanka to embark on a project aimed at providing a clean and reliable water supply for a school inhabited by 130 deaf and blind pupils in the village of Madiha.
Up to a few months ago school was in a terrible state with only one broken tap used by 50 boys. Water from the main is not regular and is only available between 9.30 am and 6.30 pm.
In the absence of a proper water supply, the disabled children used to line up alongside the open mosquito infested cesspool to get water from a contaminated and shallow well.
Marco Cremona first set his mind thinking on using his knowledge to help Tsunami victims when he became aware that the Maltese were sending containers of bottled water to Sri Lanka.
“Sending bottles of water is not a long-term solution as the provisions only last for a few weeks and the fuel costs required to transport drinking water were not sustainable.”
Marco Cremona thought that instead of sending bottles of water, Malta could contribute more by exporting its know-how and technology to assist Sri Lankans in building an infrastructure providing an adequate supply of clean water.
Together with other like-minded engineers, Cremona worked on a proposal aimed at providing the necessary expertise in water treatment to alleviate the current potable water problems faced by the population of this devastated country.
Cremona’s proposal was one of the seven development projects in tsunami-wrecked areas in Sri Lanka which were deemed eligible for funding by the Maltese government. The available funding for this venture only covered the required flight costs.
Since April Marco tried to find a suitable water project being undertaken by a voluntary organisation already working on the ground in Sri Lanka.
Back in October, Claudia Taylor East from SOS Malta called Marco from Sri Lanka to tell him that a British Charity called ‘Find Your Feet’ desperately required the help of an expert to ensure an adequate water supply for a school for the disabled in Madiha. Marco applied his knowledge in sustainable technologies to solve the school’s water supply problem.
During his week in Sri Lanka Marco conducted tests on the quality of water coming from a well, which was contaminated by surrounding cesspools. He also made the necessary arrangements with a Sri Lankan contractor on the design and installation for the construction of treatment plant aimed at transforming the presently contaminated water in to potable water.
The water treatment plant will be installed in the next few weeks, before Cremona’s second visit to Sri Lanka, which is planned for February.
But this is only the first stage of the project. Marco’s final aim is that of introducing a rainwater harvesting system through which all rain water falling on the school’s roof will be collected and re-used.
Sri Lanka presently relies on water from underground sources, which could easily be contaminated being only a few metres below ground level.
But with a rainfall of 2,500 mm per year – almost five times the amount falling in Malta – and two monsoons a year, Sri Lanka could easily meet a substantial part of its needs by collecting the rainwater directly.
The problem facing Marco is that Sri Lankans are still convinced that rainwater is dirtier than water from the mains. By using rainwater to provide for the needs of the new state of the art school, surrounding communities could follow suit as they realise that rainwater is a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to contaminated ground water.
In Sri Lanka, Cremona is only applying a concept he is already practising at home.
“My own house is presently 80 per cent self-sufficient through the use of rain water,” Cremona told MaltaToday.
“With a few minor improvements in the coming months, I believe I can achieve self sufficiency.”
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt
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