Students plug Cuba's water leaks

Students plug Cuba's water leaks

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."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/bristol/5107576.stm

Published: 2006/06/24 10:23:17 GMT