|
|
Project Feasibility Report
During our October 2007 recce to Morocco, we were accompanied by Steve Aldridge whose task it was, on behalf of the charity
Just A Drop, to survey and report on the water supply and sanitation projects we have planned in Ma'adid.
Steve's report and recommendations resulted in Just A Drop donating £5,000 GBP in funding towards the project.
His report can be read below.
Report on Water Supply and Sanitation Project
at Ma’adid, Arfoud, Morocco.
Prepared by Stephen Aldridge FRICS MIOD |
|
| 1. |
Introduction
I was charged by the charity Just a Drop to advise on the proposed project for water supply and sanitation
at Ma’adid, near Arfoud, Morocco.
Ma’adid is a small medieval walled town in the far east of Morocco close to the border with Western Sahara and less than 20
miles from the border with Algeria. The town is situated in the foothills of the Eastern Atlas mountain range on the edge
of the Sahara desert.
The town has a reasonably reliable mains electricity supply.
Conclusions have been reached and recommendations are made herein.
|
|
| 2. |
Water Supply
Status upon inspection
I met with the President of the community of Ma’adid and spent time exploring the medieval walled town of Ma’adid with
him and the town school which is just outside the town walls.
Demographics
| Walled town has a population intra muros of around 2,000. |
| The vicinity (served by the school and piped water supply) has a catchment population of 7,000. | | The school and its annex, served by the existing sanitary accommodation has a population of 550 pupils. |
There is not a declared propensity for water-bourne illness but a high proportion of chest ailments are blamed on the desert
dust. It is possible that some of these complaints are in fact water-bourne illnesses.
The catchment is served by a single water supply pipe which delivers a chlorinated and metered supply which fills a cistern
which is located just outside the walled town. The cistern is constructed of masonry and render lined. The tank is in good
order and is manually filled daily by the water supervisor. The supervisor also is responsible for collecting the payment for
the water as it is drawn from the tank by the people at a rate of 1centime per litre (approx 0.0625pence sterling per litre)
The tank has a single brass tap from which the town people fill containers for drinking water. The water was not tested but was
considered potable. The tank would benefit from additional taps but is otherwise satisfactory.
There are some branches off the incoming water supply pipe which serve a small number of buildings outside the walled town. There
is an un-metered supply branch to the school for washing and drinking water. Some leaks were noted in visible locations and there
is anecdotal evidence of other supply pipe leaks. Consideration could be given to the installation of a supply branch serving a
number of stand pipes around the walled town. These would also need to have a supervisor to collect the payments at each stand
pipes.
Within the walled town there are at least four ancient wells from which the people hoist water manually in a plastic bucket and
fill containers for their washing water and watering their beasts. The water from the wells is not considered potable, the taste
is foul, rubbish, and pollution and surface water run off contamination risk were present in all the wells.
Options Considered
In respect of the water supply, I adopt below the approach which I have recommended in my previous reports to Just a Drop:
Needs Analysis
The subsisting arrangements are unsatisfactory for the following reasons:
| The piped water supply tank is leaking in places and some investigation and repairs are required. |
| The installation of additional taps to the tank and to the school hand wash area would be beneficial. |
| The wells are unsanitary as they have surrounds which are not properly drained away from the well leaving a risk of stagnant pools and seepage into the well of soil/waste water. The installation of additional concrete aprons would be a major improvement. |
| The water lifting from the wells is satisfactory and regulates consumption at a sustainable level. |
Water Source Availability & Viability
The piped water supply seems to be potable but was not tested.
The well water is not potable but the quantity of supply appears to be sufficient.
Transportation Methods & Media
The piped water supplies are run in alkathene.
The taps are brass.
Environmental Considerations
The improvement of the well surrounds using a concrete apron will need to discharge to the existing drainage channels which
appear to be satisfactory for this purpose.
Installation & Maintenance Logistics
The plumbing repairs and improvements would require no more maintenance than the status quo and could be carried out as a
single defined project.
The whole school would benefit enormously from the improved hygiene advantages of renovation of the wall finishes and decorations
at minimal cost.
Sustainability
The works listed above, when complete should have a maintenance free life expectancy of in excess of 10 years.
Budget Cost Plan
Recce and set up costs – see sanitation section.
| Materials required: | |
| Taps | 250 |
| Pipes and Fittings | 500 |
| Concrete | 1,250 |
|
| Travel and Labour costs | None allowed for |
|
| School repair and decoration cost (materials only) | 1,000 |
|
| TOTAL | GBP 3,000 |
Advice
My advice is that this is a worthwhile project which represents good value for money and substantial benefits to a
population of up to 7,000 people.
I believe that Just a Drop should support this project.
|
|
| 3. |
Sanitation
Status upon inspection
I met with the President of the community of Ma’adid and reviewed the existing sanitation arrangements to the town as a
whole and the town school in particular.
The town exclusively uses a system of long drop toilets and dry composting. The waste chutes are cleared out manually
periodically and the waste used for fertilising field crops. This system has subsisted for many years of course
(centuries probably!) and until the town has sufficient resources for a full sewerage system the existing system
is probably the best available.
The School has a toilet block which is in poor repair but functional. The installation comprises ceramic “Turkish squat"
style pans set in concrete and flushed by ladled water. The hand washing facilities comprise a water trough and a single cold water tap.
The walls are showing significant deterioration from ageing tiling, rising damp and efflorescence in the rendering. The school itself
is also in poor decorative repair and would benefit from increased hygiene and aesthetic teaching environment.
Options Considered
We have considered the requests from the school to replace the toilet block and septic tank completely but on inspection
found these installations to be capable of economic repair. The local belief and advice given to us was that the septic
tank was full and defective. Detailed investigation showed that contrary to this information in fact there was only a
blockage caused by pebbles in the below ground pipes and therefore this was cleared, the toilets cleaned and left in
good operating order.
Re-tiling of the wash trough, improvement of its waste outlet and rendering repairs to the walls are recommended on
health and hygiene grounds.
Sustainability
The works listed when complete should have a maintenance free life expectancy of in excess of 10 years.
A proper sanitary education, cleaning and maintenance regime is an essential element of the success of this project.
Budget Cost Plan
School repair and decoration cost - see water supply section.
| Costs to date of recce, inspection, diagnosis, remedial work and cleaning of school toilets and re-commissioning of the septic tank. Completed 28th October 2007. Details from Mike Laird. | circa 5,000 |
|
| Materials required: | |
| Sand and cement for rendering | 500 |
| Tools | 500 |
| Transport | 1,000 |
| Waterproof admix | 250 |
| Quarry tiles | 250 |
|
| Labour costs | None allowed for |
|
| TOTAL | GBP 7,500 |
Advice
My advice is that this is a worthwhile project which represents good value for money and substantial benefits to a
population of in excess of 500 school pupils and significant health improvement prospects.
I believe that Just a Drop should support this project.
|
|
| 4. |
General Conclusions and Recommendations
On the premise that Just a Drop are concerned that value for money is achieved for the expenditure it incurs and that
it requires accountability for such expenditure I am recommending this project.
The project’s execution should be monitored both financially and practically through to completion and a photographic
record kept of the work.
In my opinion these objectives are served by the technical justification herein and audited by someone experienced in
the field. Additionally there should be an on site review two years after completion to establish the success of the
project and update strategy for future projects. Alternatively, ongoing communication is required with a reliable point
of contact on site to confirm that the system is still functioning.
I recommend this project.
|
|
