WE ARE SEEKING VOLUNTEERS

Project Background: A small rural community in Niobrara County, WY, is working to address concerns regarding their water storage tank. The current storage tank was built in the early 1940's at a capacity of 217,000 gallons. Some of the current issues include the size being too large for the served population, a deteriorating, unstable base, and inoperable water level indicator, although more deficiencies are expected to be present. These issues have led to significant water loss from the tank. Additionally, there are concerns that natural disasters would topple the tank, causing more water loss and damages. Despite the community conducting some short-term fixes themselves, a lack of funding and expertise has rendered the community unable to implement a long term solution. The community is prioritizing the need for water storage, either through retrofitting the existing tank or constructing a new tank(s). The water tank is part of a larger effort to bolster the community’s water infrastructure. Midwest Assistance Partnership, an RCAP affiliate, has worked in the community for two years on drinking water projects, with previous projects including the community’s two wells that tested positive for radium and arsenic. The community was out of compliance based on these results, but with MAP’s assistance the community is now in the final stage of testing for their wells to come back into compliance. All tests have been passed thus far.

A small water utility in Plymouth County, MA, is looking to connect seasonal users to the main distribution system, increasing their customer base by offering year-round service. The current main lines are shallow and undersized, causing them to be unable to support year-round service. For this reason, the community is looking to upsize the lines and bury at an adequate depth for year round use.

Currently, community members that have seasonal pipes rely on private wells that provide water to residents during off-season. In addition to the general issue of water provision, a major concern is that these private wells have tested high for nitrates and magnesium.

A small, spring-fed, community-run water utility operating in a rural community in Allegany County, MD, is in need of upgrades. The system, which serves 28 homes, is facing several challenges. As the entire system is approaching 60 years of age, and is either nearing the end of or already beyond its useful service life. The system has many leaks, and being located in a rural area, some homes that it services are as far as two miles apart from one another. This distance, along with the topography of the area, has resulted in the system being quite disjointed. The community has previously either repaired the system themselves, or raised funds internally to cover the expenses of repairs. This is becoming less feasible, however, as the system ages and more challenges arise. The system is not in compliance with Maryland state regulations and must be updated to achieve compliance. The spring serves about 28 homes and does not provide consistently sufficient pressure to all connections, resulting in a potential backflow hazard, as well as unreliable service for each customer. Water from the spring has tested positive for nitrates/nitrites and coliform. The treatment system qualifies as a T1 plan.

A non profit organization operating across Puerto Rico is focusing on the preservation of affordable, sustainable, and high-quality housing for the elderly and other vulnerable populations. Their efforts are focused on modernizing communities, adapting them to Puerto Rico’s current needs, and making improvements that enhance the residents quality of life. For their San Sebastian location, they require support assessing the potable water system.

As a way to support their mission of providing economic opportunities and promoting self-sufficiency for the people of Puerto Rico, a local non profit organization runs a small agricultural farm, producing native crops such as coffee and papaya. They are currently struggling to manage stormwater runoff as water, from even light rain, is causing damage to their crops and structures. The organization requires support in understanding the root of this issue and developing a sustainable solution that would allow them to recycle excess water for alternative uses.

A non-profit, Young Women on the Move (YWOM), helps middle and high school girls in Wyandotte County live healthier and more prosperous lives. They are operating out of a 100-year-old church donated to them in 2017. They have several needs stemming from that space as well as opportunities to expand their environmental justice impact and provide pathways to careers that support those goals. YMOM is planning to renovate a portion of the church. Additionally, adjacent to the church is a condemned property owned by the organization. YWOM is interested in having the property demolished to turn it into an outdoor classroom.

As a way to support their mission of providing economic opportunities and promoting self-sufficiency for the people of Puerto Rico, a local non profit organization runs a small agricultural farm, producing native crops such as coffee and papaya. They are currently struggling to manage stormwater runoff as water, from even light rain, is causing damage to their crops and structures. The organization requires support in understanding the root of this issue and developing a sustainable solution that would allow them to recycle excess water for alternative uses.

Project Background: A small rural community in Niobrara County, WY, is working to address concerns regarding their water storage tank. The current storage tank was built in the early 1940's at a capacity of 217,000 gallons. Some of the current issues include the size being too large for the served population, a deteriorating, unstable base, and inoperable water level indicator, although more deficiencies are expected to be present. These issues have led to significant water loss from the tank. Additionally, there are concerns that natural disasters would topple the tank, causing more water loss and damages. Despite the community conducting some short-term fixes themselves, a lack of funding and expertise has rendered the community unable to implement a long term solution. The community is prioritizing the need for water storage, either through retrofitting the existing tank or constructing a new tank(s). The water tank is part of a larger effort to bolster the community’s water infrastructure. Midwest Assistance Partnership, an RCAP affiliate, has worked in the community for two years on drinking water projects, with previous projects including the community’s two wells that tested positive for radium and arsenic. The community was out of compliance based on these results, but with MAP’s assistance the community is now in the final stage of testing for their wells to come back into compliance. All tests have been passed thus far.

A small water utility in Plymouth County, MA, is looking to connect seasonal users to the main distribution system, increasing their customer base by offering year-round service. The current main lines are shallow and undersized, causing them to be unable to support year-round service. For this reason, the community is looking to upsize the lines and bury at an adequate depth for year round use.

Currently, community members that have seasonal pipes rely on private wells that provide water to residents during off-season. In addition to the general issue of water provision, a major concern is that these private wells have tested high for nitrates and magnesium.

A small, spring-fed, community-run water utility operating in a rural community in Allegany County, MD, is in need of upgrades. The system, which serves 28 homes, is facing several challenges. As the entire system is approaching 60 years of age, and is either nearing the end of or already beyond its useful service life. The system has many leaks, and being located in a rural area, some homes that it services are as far as two miles apart from one another. This distance, along with the topography of the area, has resulted in the system being quite disjointed. The community has previously either repaired the system themselves, or raised funds internally to cover the expenses of repairs. This is becoming less feasible, however, as the system ages and more challenges arise. The system is not in compliance with Maryland state regulations and must be updated to achieve compliance. The spring serves about 28 homes and does not provide consistently sufficient pressure to all connections, resulting in a potential backflow hazard, as well as unreliable service for each customer. Water from the spring has tested positive for nitrates/nitrites and coliform. The treatment system qualifies as a T1 plan.

A non profit organization operating across Puerto Rico is focusing on the preservation of affordable, sustainable, and high-quality housing for the elderly and other vulnerable populations. Their efforts are focused on modernizing communities, adapting them to Puerto Rico’s current needs, and making improvements that enhance the residents quality of life. For their San Sebastian location, they require support assessing the potable water system.

A nonprofit water utility district, which provides drinking water to a rural community in Kootenai County, ID, is looking to update its existing systems. The community’s drinking water infrastructure was developed in the 1960s, and has surpassed its useful service life. The utility is seeking Community Engineering Corps’ support to assist in the development of a Facilities Plan (Preliminary Engineering Report and Environmental Report), which will be used in an application for funding for the system’s rehabilitation. The utility is a small, community-owned water system that has not yet been able to find any assistance to finance a Facilities Plan.

This project is in partnership with the Rural Community Assistance Corporate (RCAC). RCAC plans on completing the Environmental Report component of the Facilities Plan.

A non-profit, Young Women on the Move (YWOM), helps middle and high school girls in Wyandotte County live healthier and more prosperous lives. They are operating out of a 100-year-old church donated to them in 2017. They have several needs stemming from that space as well as opportunities to expand their environmental justice impact and provide pathways to careers that support those goals. YMOM is planning to renovate a portion of the church. Additionally, adjacent to the church is a condemned property owned by the organization. YWOM is interested in having the property demolished to turn it into an outdoor classroom.

A small water utility in Plymouth County, MA, is looking to connect seasonal users to the main distribution system, increasing their customer base by offering year-round service. The current main lines are shallow and undersized, causing them to be unable to support year-round service. For this reason, the community is looking to upsize the lines and bury at an adequate depth for year round use.

Currently, community members that have seasonal pipes rely on private wells that provide water to residents during off-season. In addition to the general issue of water provision, a major concern is that these private wells have tested high for nitrates and magnesium.

A small, spring-fed, community-run water utility operating in a rural community in Allegany County, MD, is in need of upgrades. The system, which serves 28 homes, is facing several challenges. As the entire system is approaching 60 years of age, and is either nearing the end of or already beyond its useful service life. The system has many leaks, and being located in a rural area, some homes that it services are as far as two miles apart from one another. This distance, along with the topography of the area, has resulted in the system being quite disjointed. The community has previously either repaired the system themselves, or raised funds internally to cover the expenses of repairs. This is becoming less feasible, however, as the system ages and more challenges arise. The system is not in compliance with Maryland state regulations and must be updated to achieve compliance. The spring serves about 28 homes and does not provide consistently sufficient pressure to all connections, resulting in a potential backflow hazard, as well as unreliable service for each customer. Water from the spring has tested positive for nitrates/nitrites and coliform. The treatment system qualifies as a T1 plan.