Clean drinking water is so often taken for granted, but there are areas all over the world that struggle to get a safe drink of water every day.
Safe and clean drinking water has been always been an issue in developing countries around the globe. There are people in countries worldwide who get water-born diseases because they drink, bathe, wash clothes and perform other daily tasks in the same water source.
According to Dr. Joe Morgan, the university’s department chair of civil and environmental engineering, engineers are some of the most important people in helping deal with the clean water crisis in the world.
”Typically engineers that are helping people have access to clean water would work with local or national populations to try and help folks look at available sources,” he said.
Safety for the communities is the key issue for engineers who are helping develop clean water systems.
“We have to analyze and know what is the best plan for meeting the needs of the community,” Morgan said. “We decide which technology may or may not be required to make sure the water is reasonably safe.”
Morgan said for communities who only have one water source for the entire area, the solution may be very simple.
“A lot of times, all that is really required is just to put in a well.” Morgan said, explaining that putting in a working well can greatly enhance the water quality of a community that uses the same water source for everything they do.
Not only do engineers help with the building process of wells and treatment plants. Morgan said they are also very involved in the planning stages.
“Engineers are typically involved in guiding people through the decision process of what the communities should do to improve their specific water situation,” Morgan said. “We may help them decide how to create the well, help them come up with the money for the well even.”
According to Morgan, there are a couple of reasons why wells are a great alternative for clean water instead of building a water treatment plant.
“One thing is, don’t saddle the developing countries with technology that is above their abilities,” Morgan said, explaining that engineers don’t want to build an expensive water treatment facility when a ground water well can give the people a significantly better standard of drinking water than they previously had.
“If you can tap into a ground water source and do a good job of sealing in the well, the water quality is so much better than they had before,” Morgan said.
As part of a university involved in mission work, the engineering department at Lipscomb has gone on several trips, specifically to Guatemala, Honduras and the Dominican Republic to help those areas become more livable.
Many religious groups are involved in advancing and aiding the need for clean water, as well. Ethos Church, where many students attend services here in Nashville, has an entire program specifically dedicated to raising money to place clean water systems in developing countries.
On Sunday, Oct. 28, Ethos is dedicating the entire day to its clean water project. All money collected that day will go to the church’s clean water program. Ethos is involved in the program all year long, but this day is specifically in honor of clean water.