Community Fountain on the Zambezi River

People in a Chirundu, Zambia, community wash clothes in the Zambezi River which is infested with crocodiles.  This project will develop a community fountain with basins away from the bank where people could gather socially, wash clothes and collect water in safety.  The project will be a 2008-2009 senior project for civil, environmental and mechanical engineering students. It will involve pumping the water up the bank and treating it to drinking water quality. Since there is no electricity in the area, students will need to determine which technologies will be appropriate and sustainable.  Alternatives may include using the power of the Zambezi to directly pump the water (i.e. a ram pump) or using hydro-power turbines to generate electricity for a conventional pump and treat system.