Vanuatu 2008

Vanuatu Ivankula Retrofit Project

Between the 2nd and 21st of July, 8 representatives of Engineers Without Borders New Zealand (EWB) worked as consultants to World Vision Vanuatu on the development of water infrastructure on Tanna island. The primary objective of the project was to carry out an assessment and design of a water scheme upgrade for the Ivankula region.

Soon after arriving, the team met with Malachi David, World Vision’s Water and Sanitation project manager on Tanna Island. Apparently due to communication issues between EWB and World Vision, the construction of the scheme was already underway by the enthusiastic World Vision team with the support of the local community so desperate for water.

A site visit to the proposed water source revealed the exact extent of the works already completed and gave the engineers a better understanding of what they were in for over the duration of the project.

• Firstly they had to obtain elevation data from barometric/GPS survey gear and utilized crude yet clever methods to improve the accuracy and reliability of the data due to the presence of various obstacles such as:
  • The topography and density of the wet, slippery jungle
  • Valleys, several waterfalls, and a huge slip
  • Fences controlling livestock
  • Dramatic and rapid weather changes.
• Upon analysing the elevation data the engineers quickly realised that the pipe route as laid out by local staff passed over too many high points to allow water to flow.
• The most difficult outcome of this discovery was having that they would have to drag many kilometres of the 150m coils of pipe through the dense jungle into new locations.
• The EWB team ventured yet again through the dense bush from the spring at the source to the tank location marking a new pipe route. Mike and Paul volunteered for the difficult task and after 10hrs in the bush they emerged shattered but satisfied with their handiwork.

During the remaining few days the team spent their time:

• Visiting 6 other water schemes at various villages around the island, where;
  • In some cases brief recommendations and advice were given.
  • In other cases fairly extensive design data was gathered to allow comprehensive design documentation to be prepared.
• Gathering design information for a possible new World Vision HQ on Tanna.
• Designing a micro-hydro generator for Ivankula Primary School which currently has 150 students, 1 long-drop toilet, inadequate water supply and no electricity.
• Listening to similar stories about the difficulties of providing safe drinking water to villages and the request of their assistance from village representatives who heard the engineers were in town via the bush telegraph.

Near the end of the project Natalie, a 3rd year mechanical engineering student, travelled with David Stein (a director of the Vanuatu Renewable Power and Electricity Association) to the island of Futuna, near Tanna, to undertake site-based analysis of proposed windmill installations.

• Futuna is home to approximately 300 people and is very isolated from contact with the outside world (they haven’t had a supplies ship since January).
• The turbines will generate electricity for lighting and possibly for refrigeration to enable the islands fishermen to preserve their catch.
• Vanuatu is hit by a number of large cyclones every year which often cause huge damage to infrastructure and wind turbines are particularly susceptible given their location on the most exposed sites.
• EWB is running a design challenge in New Zealand for engineers to come up with a design for lowering wind turbines when a cyclone warning is sounded.

Engineers Without Borders New Zealand would like to thank principal sponsor Mainzeal Property and Construction whose support with finances and equipment made the project possible. The project was an absolute success by any measure and the other major sponsors OPUS International Consultants, RCP, and The University of Auckland can all be proud of their contribution to the personal and professional development of the team, in addition to the enrichment of the lives of hundreds of residents of Tanna Island through the provision of water. Thanks to World Vision for providing transport and airport transfers in addition to local knowledge on Tanna, and to Victoria Fray for acting as engineering mentor throughout the project.