DESIGN PROPOSAL

WVIS 321

North-West University: Potchefstroom Campus

 Table of Contents

1. Contents
2. Purpose............................................................................................. 2
3. Current water situation ...................................................................... 2
4. Our solution ....................................................................................... 2
4.1. The dam ................................................................................................................. 2
4.2. The pipeline ............................................................................................................ 4
5. Funding ............................................................................................. 4
6. References ........................................................................................ 4

List of Figures

Figure 1: Construction with bottles (Architecture and design) ................................................ 3

Figure 2: Example of an above ground dam (Google images)............................................... 3

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2. Purpose
As a group we decided that we are going to focus on the possible water problem that makers
valley will most probably encounter in the future. The purpose of our design is to provide a
sustainable water supply to the community. The main purpose is not to replace the current
water supply, but to provide water to the community, while reducing the use of the main
water supply.
Our solution is to design an entire water system with a dam, pipes and taps. Where the taps
are on strategic locations where residence could collect the water as needed. We want to
design this system as simple as possible, so that the community could maintain it
themselves without any need for formal education, but basic training.
When the system is complete, we would like to see the community maintain the system
themselves. We would also like to see that they use the experience to make another one
and with time they could supply the whole community with minimal need for municipality
water.

3. Current water situation

Currently makers valley gets their clean drinkable water from Lesotho, but climate crisis
threatening is the future water supply.
The current water use of a single-family household is 200 litres a day and increase to 320
litre a day.
The municipality provide 25 litre per person for free after that a cost applies if more than that
is used per day. This cost increase per litre as more water is used. The current water supply
is provided by pumps and is not reliable during power outages.
Makers valley have a high rainfall average per year of 726 mm/year.

4. Our solution
We divided our solution into two main factors namely: The dam and pipeline

4.1. The dam

The 2litre plastic bottle was a revolutionary idee which lead to a convenient way to store
fluids while it is being distributed and consumed. Although this made traveling with your
favourite drink much easier it is a great threat to the environment if it is not disposed of
properly.
With recycling of these bottles not always as sufficient as needed, some is using these
bottles in construction. This seen as better because the bottles remain intact when it is
recycled, as supposed to adding chemicals and recycling it.
By filling empty 2 litre bottles a house was constructed. By filling it, a strong structure was
constructed. The bottles are not brittle and the structure can stand unaffected by abrupt
shocks. It is able to withstand heavy loads without failure. It is said the house is 20 times
stronger than brick houses. It is very cost effective and easy to construct. [1]

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 FIGURE 1: CONSTRUCTION WITH BOTTLES (ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN)
Because this example of constructing a house with recycled material is a strong structure
and cheap, we decided that we want to construct the dam in this manner.
Paying the community to recycle the 2 litre plastic bottles will not only create an extra bit of
cash flow but will help keep the community clean.
The purpose op involving the community in not only the gathering of material, but also the
physical construction will create jobs.
We are still unsure where the dam will be placed, but we are sure that we want to make it
gravity feed to ensure a reliable water supply.
This dam will mainly be filled by rain water, thus it will have no roof.
The size of the dam is dependent on the location size. We believe the minimal size of the
dam should be able to cater 50 shared house holds for 124 days without rainfall (1984 Kl).
We do not think this service should be free but that a small monthly charge (lower than
current rates) to create funding to help with construction of similar community dams.

FIGURE 2: EXAMPLE OF AN ABOVE GROUND DAM (GOOGLE IMAGES)

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4.2. The pipeline
The most expensive part of the system is by far the pipeline. The cost of the pipe as well as
the cost of submerging it underground is not cheap.
It is how ever our recommendation to place taps on strategic locations in the community
where members can collect water as needed. It is important to feed these taps with pipes
laid underground.
At this moment PVC pipes are the best option to transport water to the community. It has a
low carbon manufacturing proses. It is also recyclable and cost efficient [2]. PVC has a wide
variety of benefits and is the best solution for our system.

5. Funding
The funding needed to fund such a project is high, but due to our strategic approach the cost
would be substantially lowered.
We would need funding to pay:

• The community members building the dam.

• Community members collecting the bottles
• All participants that will make sure the dam structure is up to standard
• The minimal material and equipment needed to construct the dam.
• The pipe network with taps
• All legal documents needed
We believe the funding would be a one-time investment, we want the community to maintain
the structure themselves. The purpose it to give the community all the knowledge during this
proses, that they could make water in the community a reliable and sustainable resource.
‘If you give a hungry man a fish, you feed him for a day, but if you teach him how to fish, you
feed him for a lifetime’ – Lao Tzu

6. References

[1] MMK, “Architecture and Design,” 19 October 2015. [Online]. Available:

https://www.architecturendesign.net/man-builds-an-amazing-house-with-recycled-
plastic-bottles/. [Accessed 9 Desember 2020].
[2] “PVC4pipes,” 2020. [Online]. Available: https://pvc4pipes.com/pvc-pipes/why-pvc-pipes/.
[Accessed 9 December 2020].

Extra resources was used while compiling this proposal and can be found under the
research folder of EWB28 folder on Efundi.