Ecuador
Susudel
The Puget Sound Professionals Chapter (EWB-PSP) and University of Washington student Chapter (EWB-UW) are collaborating to develop new strategies for irrigation of fruit trees and to evaluate the feasibility of expanding the current water resources available.
The region surrounding Susudel, Ecuador consists of a farming community, of Mestizo culture, in the Andean highlands. The Susudel Irrigation Project was initiated by a Peace Corps volunteer working with the community. This project is to develop new strategies for irrigation of fruit trees and to evaluate the feasibility of expanding the current water resources available.
The Puget Sound Professionals Chapter (EWB-PSP) and University of Washington student Chapter (EWB-UW) are collaborating on this project.
In the spring of 2006, both EWB-PSPP and EWB-UW members visited the site and assessed potential Susudel irrigation systems. The site assessment team held meetings with local community leaders, the regional mayor, and government officials to discuss planning for the project and to establish a community contact program. Data related to the local geology and hydrology, irrigation and crop needs, as well as community feedback were collected to help identify irrigation methods that could best support local fruit crops.
The project team has performed hydrologic modeling, crop modeling, preliminary conveyance design, and demand forecasting to evaluate whether drip irrigation alone could meet the water demands for future fruit crop needs or if new water resources would need to be developed. The project team is currently finishing a feasibility study highlighting the recommended and potential irrigation options for Susudel. A follow-up trip will be conducted to deliver the results of the site assessment/feasibility analysis as well as to plan for recommended future projects by the community.
For more information, please contact Randal Samstag (rwsamstag [at] stanfordalumni [dot] org).