In spring 2015, Dr. Mike Marsolek, associate professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering, had plans to visit Kathmandu University (KU) in Nepal to coordinate waste-to-energy research for Mt. Everest, but the purpose of his trip took on an added dimension after the devastating earthquake that shook the country on April 25th. Dr. Marsolek worked with project partners from Summit Climb, Dan Mazur and Murari Sharma, KU Professor Bed Mani Dahal and Nepal Engineering College Professor Dibya Kansakar to install a much needed drinking water treatment system that Seattle University teams had previously installed in Thailand, Haiti and Jamaica.
With the assistance of CEJS Director Phillip Thompson, Seattle University students (from left to right below) Rob Taft, Abbie Lorensen and Geoffrey Luoma prepared the water filtration materials and packed them for Dr. Marsolek's voyage to Nepal.
The system was installed in Sakhu, a small village outside the Kathmandu Valley. Residents were eager to receive the treatment system, which included a series of replaceable media filters, activated carbon and an ultraviolet light disinfection unit. The system continues to serve the community during reconstruction and through the use of locally available replacement materials, it will be used post-reconstruction to provide safe water to village residents.
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