Another exciting work day in Chuchurras, with just one more day remaining. Today we continued installing more of the water distribution network, filling the new 10,000-liter tanks, troubleshooting pump controls, and meeting with the community. Another 500 feet of piping was installed and all major connections to the water main were completed.
At the heart of the EWB mission is improving lives. Given our close partnership with Reach Global, they asked us to visit the community of Tsopis, a different more remote community in the Yanesha reserve. Everyone deserves safe and reliable access to drinking water, but our team is limited by time and money. With this visit, Chris was able to provide suggestions and introduce new concepts to the community so they could get the most water for their money. With a rainwater catchment system being the most effective for them.
Now meet the EWB-MN Chuchurras 2024 Travel Team!
Chris Larson, our Project Lead, is a senior engineer at Stanley Consultants. Chris has been a key player in the vision of this project and has been leading the Chuchurras project since the beginning. On this trip, Chris has been involved in all parts of this project but has focused on troubleshooting the controls at the pump, tank installation, and overall community relations.
Brian Roth, a retired Stanley Consultants Project Manager and also our EWB Responsible Engineer in Charge (REIC), is a veteran Chuchurras team member, and his expertise and advice on field decisions have been instrumental. Brian also excels at delegating tasks to our team members and seeking answers to critical questions from community leaders, while always keeping team morale high with hydration!
Rena Weis, a Water Resource Engineer at Stantec, has also been with the Chuchurras Project Team since the beginning. Rena is our project generalist and has been a key person in a variety of tasks, including teaching proper pipe installation techniques, inventory management, and learning Yanesha.
Derek Carlson is a Technician at SEH and has been our CAD expert during plan development. Derek has been with the team since 2019 and has been a critical player in reconfiguring the well house and assembling the chlorination system. Derek is also fearless when it comes to all the bugs we've encountered on this trip.
Paige Meskan, a Project Manager at Associated Mechanical Contractors, has been involved with the EWB Peru Team since 2019. Paige's primary focus has been overseeing the excavation, pipe installation, and ensuring the proper pipe sizes and fittings are installed at the correct locations. Paige has been confidently and effectively communicating construction needs with the community in Spanish, which has made her the fan favorite of the young girls in the community.
Brian Rivers is a Compliance Engineer with the Minnesota Department of Health and a former Peace Corps Volunteer who spent time in Peru. Brian has been a wonderful asset, jumping in anywhere and everywhere, and has graciously assisted with translating with our Spanish-speaking counterparts.
And special thanks to our translator Sarai! She has been very helpful in bridging the language and cultural gaps while understanding the community's needs. Thanks, Sarai!
