Calvin College engineering students work on Apatug water system

Students record data points to produce a plan of the community water system in Apatug.

The water board of Apatug asked for a picture with the students.

In Lupaxi Chico, Bruce explains the pumping facilities.

Five engineering students from Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI, took on the challenge of designing urgently needed water system improvements for the community of Apatug.  Julie, Wendy, Nathan and Mark joined Bruce and Cherith in Ecuador to work, live, and interact with the people of this community which towers 11,000 ft. above sea level.
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"I was amazed to see that at least 15 members of the community came out to help us in our work each day," comments Wendy.  Julie adds, "the women hauled all of the survey equipment up the mountain for us."  The community also provided two meals a day for us.  We slept on the floor of a former church building.  The raw cold of cloudy, rainy days made progress difficult, but by the second week, the topographic survey was completed.  Bruce also showed the students pumping installations, reservoirs, water meter pedestals, chlorine production equipment in other communities with completed water systems so that they could learn more about sustainable community development.  ​