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Students plug Cuba's water
leaks
BBC,
UK, 24 June 2006.
Four engineering students from Bristol
University are preparing to fly to Havana
in an attempt to improve the Cuban capital's
water supplies.
The students belong to the university's
Engineers Without Borders society which
is working on a project to optimise and
control urban Cuban water.
They aim to test their system in the area
of the Polytechnic University of Havana,
which serves 5,000 people.
The final project's aim is to set up an
efficient automated water network.
Supply problems
The work is a follow-up to the university's
2005 Mondialogo engineering award-winning
project, which researched best practice
for the Cuban electrical and water supplies.
During their visit the students will meet
with the Havana local government, including
the Ministry of Water Resources and the
Ministry of Science, Technology and the
Environment, and the Vice-Director of Aguas
de la Habana.
Robert Cottrell, project co-ordinator and
president of EWB Bristol, said: "Nearly
70% of the water pumped into Havana is lost
through leakages, often resulting in areas
of the city's water supply being cut off
for days.
"We hope to gain a deeper understanding
of the environment and the culture where
we are carrying out the project."
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