Final Report October 27, 2003

It is a great pleasure to report that CEA is finally nearing the end of a two-year effort to build ecological toilets for the Akumal Primary and Kinder schools.

The project began with an idea to demonstrate advanced waste treatment for sewage (composting toilets) to the residents of the pueblo through the children. The project also proposed to teach more constructors in the area how to design and build composting toilets and constructed wetlands.

Through a generous donation to CEA from the Sam and Charles Foundation, family foundation of David and Lisa U’Prichard of Philadelphia, the project was begun with great enthusiasm and support from the directors of the Kinder and Primary schools.

Support from the directors was one thing. Support from the parents was another. Many of the parents were afraid their small children would fall into the composting toilet box and be lost forever!

The parents rushed to build ‘normal’ toilets they felt were safer for the children. Unfortunately, the toilets they built were nothing but outhouses into a very small holding box; not even a septic tank was included. After much discussion in meetings with presentations to the parents, mostly moms at first, it was agreed that the Kindergarten baños would be ‘normal’ and we would build a grey water wetland for the hand washing water.

It was decided that the composting toilets would be built for the Primary students who are bigger and less likely to fall in. It was planned that the composting toilets would have a drip irrigation system leading to an orchard to demonstrate a use for the treated effluent.

Meetings were held and the technical committee, Margarita Erosa, architect, Jamie Medina, constructor and Dinah Drago, composting toilet expert, was formed. I was the administrator for CEA. The grant money was in the bank and we were ready to go. David Whitney provided a wetland design, Curt Sparks from NAWE helped with consultations about sizing and aeration. A. J. Rossman designed a solar pump for the aeration. Finally, all was ready to go. Lydia Pontius was on hand to begin filming the project and then death in the Medina family took Jamie, the constructor, away and the project came to a halt. At some point during this time, Kate Riley, wetland engineer, became involved in supervising the project. Little did any of us know, what else could possibly happen?

Rescheduling needed to be done and was, then Dinah Drago’s mom became ill and she had to go to Texas for an extended period of time. When Dinah returned, Jamie lost another relative and was in Campeche. Dinah became ill, and then her mother passed away. Margarita’s daughter had a baby, first grandchild.

Plenty! First of all, the school district started construction of a new Kinder across town at the Junior High School. Baños are included in the building plan.

Then, CAPA, the potable water commission, began a project to bring fresh water to Akumal and the Akumal Pueblo. CAPA is also putting in drainage to a sewage treatment plant they are building in the quarry north and west of the highway from Akumal. With the drainage, the baños for the Primary school will hook up to the treatment, while keeping the gray water for the wetland.

At this point, the planned composting toilets became unnecessary, as they would not be used. The school district became involved before we had constructed baños, which would have been obsolete before they were opened. We haven’t wasted any of the money and it is hoped that several important projects can be accomplished with the remaining funds.

One such project is an experimental composting toilet for the Jardin de los Niños in the village, which has no toilet and no money to build one. Another is to bring the Cooperative Orgánica to the pueblo and a third is to provide Emilio Talancón with all of the tools he needs to bring the quarry collaboration with CAPA to fruition.

Lydia Pontius is finalizing a video made to demonstrate the process of a project like this one and to show how other communities can do the same for themselves. The video is being funded by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and will soon be ready for distribution to communities in the region who are making decisions now about how they too, will have sanitation in their homes.

All in all, 3 deaths, one birth, changes and new decisions by the government officials and two years to reach the end of a project. A nightmare, perhaps so, but now, all I can say is despite all of our worries and work, the nightmare turned into a good dream after all.

On Monday October 13 the children helped to plant the wetland, the baño doors were opened and the children practiced washing their hands to send water to the plants. The students from the 5th and 6th grades helped Nadia and Kate plant the wetland, while Mauricio explained to them how the wetland works. Children of all ages participated in a hand washing and they all had a great time.

A young Mexican muralist, Juan, is painting the wall over the sink area. Everyday the mural takes on new meaning as Juan expresses the concept of

clean water, clean hands clean planet.

When the rains stop, the children and their parents will be invited to put their handprints on the wetland walls.

One last thing to be done, but wow! For me, the project is a satisfying one, because we have accomplished much of what we have set out to do. Most importantly, through the meetings about the project, the residents of the Akumal Pueblo are more aware now of the issues of water quality and human waste management that ever before. Several residents have asked about help to build these systems at their homes in Yucatán. This is real progress.

We thank all of the individuals who have participated in making this project a resounding success! David and Lisa U’Prichard, Kate Riley, Jamie Medina, Margarita Erosa, Dinah Drago, David Whitney, Curt Sparks and the NAWE staff, A. J. Rossman, Ernesto Martinez, Lydia Pontius and Claudia Tolentino for her plant expertise.

Reported by Kate Robinhawk
October 27, 2003