In December 2018, the Seattle University chapter of Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW) and Professionals Without Borders (PWOB) identified a need for safe drinking water treatment at the Naphopitthayakhom School in Napho, Thailand which serves approximately 1000 students in grades 7-12. The school's water supply was being pumped from a deep well to a tower that distributes water throughout the campus (see map below). Unfortunately, the water was undrinkable due to high levels of salt and E. Coli bacteria. As a result, the school was spending approximately $100 per day on bottled water for the students.
In 2019, on Christmas Day, a new reverse osmosis drinking water treatment system with ultraviolet light disinfection began providing safe drinking water to the school. The system was installed by PP Water, a local business, which will continue to provide maintenance for less than $5 per day. In addition to the cost savings for the school's annual water budget, hundreds of thousands of plastic water bottles per year will no longer be used.
Funding for this project was provided by ESW, PWOB, the Seattle University Endowed Mission Fund, Emerald City Rotary, the Seattle University Rotaract Club and CEJS donors. If you would like to support projects like this, please consider an online donation of any amount, thank you!
