Pictured are, from left, Rick Rediske, Peter Wampler and Azizur Molla in
rural Haiti. The three are conducting a research project on water quality.
Interdisciplinary project could improve water quality in Haiti
Jun 1, 2012
An interdisciplinary research project by three Grand Valley
professors could improve the quality of drinking water for rural
Haitians.
The trio of Peter Wampler, associate professor of geology;
Azizur Molla, assistant professor of anthropology; and Rick Rediske,
professor of water resources, traveled to Haiti in May to collect
water samples and interview residents.
Wampler said they visited 60 homes near Deschapelles, roughly
three hours west of Port-au-Prince. Reaching some homes meant an
hour-long drive on steep roads followed by a long hike through
mountainous terrain. Some of the Haitians they interviewed said they
treat their drinking water with chlorine tablets or bleach, others use
water filters, but most are not currently treating their water.
Drinking unfiltered water can lead to cholera and other diseases.
This project is a link between natural science and social
science, as the factors contributing to poor water quality in Haiti
involve both physical and cultural components, according to Rediske.
Molla explained that this project will continue after the water
quality analysis is complete. “This will not end with publication of
the results. We’re going to try to develop and implement sustainable
water quality interventions,” he said.
The researchers agreed there will not be one solution. Wampler
said he would like to see Haitians trained, within their community, to
help their neighbors use water filters or other treatments correctly.
“The Haitians haven’t been able to participate in the solution to this
problem,” he said. “Having locally trained people with the expertise
to help would be a good model to put into place.”
Wampler said the results will be shared with Haitian officials
and others providing safe water solutions there.
The researchers received an interdisciplinary grant from Grand
Valley’s Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence for this
project, with additional support from the College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences and the Padnos International Center. The interviews were
videotaped and documented by a graduate student, Renato Delos Reyes.
More information is online, click
here.
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