1. A Solar-Pumped Domestic
1 10/13/2014
Water Supply for the
Mountains of Rural Haiti
Eric Sabelman*, Trudy Reagan, Rose Ashford,
Elisee Abraham, Randy Mont-Reynaud
“If Pigs Could Fly – Helping Hillside Haiti”
Palo Alto, California USA
* Member IEEE-EMBS

2. IPCF: A micro-NGO for a specific
locale in Haiti
“If Pigs Could Fly – Helping
Hillside Haiti” established in 2001
Operates at “Mon Bouton” in
roadless Zoranje region above
Leogane (2010 quake epicenter)
Projects on children’s health &
education, income-producing
crafts & agriculture, lighting
On-site management by Elisee
“Thomas” Abraham, veterinarian
& community organizer
Family dwellings in Mon Bouton

3. Need: Bring water closer to point of use
Water is carried by women &
children from 3 sources; largest
is “Ouache-ouache” (circled)
about 700 m downhill

4. Solar water pump design criteria
• Provide kits of all parts not locally available
• Assemble with simple tools (provided)
• Solar panels positioned above vegetation &
anchored against high wind
• Raise water in 2 stages for 460 ft (140 m) rise
• Length of pipe 1000 feet (300 m) or more
• Pump 400 gallons (1500 L) per day
• Use excess power for charging batteries
• Engage local “watermaster” to manage system

5. Components & prototyping
Two kits, each containing:
• 180 watt BP solar panel
• 24VDC ShurFlo 9300 pump
• Pre-formed brackets for
panel support tripods
• Controller with level switch
• Electric cables and
connectors (pre-assembled)
• Hardware and tools
• Graphic instructions

6. Timeline
• April, 2011 - Earth Day
demonstration, Sunnyvale CA
• July, 2012 - shipped two kits
• September, 2012 - released from
customs in Port au Prince
• August, 2013 - construction
began; stopped by rockslide
• December, 2013 - construction
resumed at new mid-level site
• January, 2014 - water delivery
< Power vs. pressure head

7. Solar panel support tripod
• Brackets were cut, punched,
pre-formed & labeled
• sample with U-bolts installed
• Bracket “F” allows seasonal tilt
• Bracket “A” detaches to lower
tripod in hurricane wind

8. Critical components: pump & panel
ShurFlo Model 9325-043-101
24VDC Submersible Pump for potable water
BP Solar BP SX170 170W
Multicrystalline Solar Panel
Maximum power (Pmax) 170W
Voltage at Pmax (Vmp) 35.4V
Current at Pmax (Imp) 4.8A

9. Kit assembly with in-country supplies
Purchased in Haiti :
1. 3/4 inch PVC water pipe, PVC glue & primer
2. water storage tanks, 300 gal
3. concrete & cement blocks for footings & reservoir
4. steel EMT conduit for lightning rod & solar panel tripods

10. Transportation to Mon Bouton
Hardware kits (larger has toolbox)
• Airfreight to Port au Prince
• Truck to Leogane, then south to end of road
• Mule & human porters across river and up

11. Source: reservoir at “Wach-wach”
Workers had experience
with block construction of
reservoir at Bain Neuf
Lower pumping trial before
tripod was finished

12. Construction: lower tripod assembly
Assembling tripod brackets
with tools from kit
EMT tubing cut to size on site
(1 ½, 1, ¾ inch diameters)
Partly completed tripod on
concrete footings at initial
lower site above reservoir

13. Laying pipe to mid-level site
Initial middle site had 80 ft (24 m)
rise from source; near footpath on
actively eroding slope

14. First mid-level tank & panel site
Rockfall after overnight rain
damaged partly assembled
tripod & covered footing
After test of pumping to
initial top site, work was
stopped until a safe
middle site was found

15. Second lower & mid-level pump sites
Lower pump, panel & tank
relocated to west
Mid-level pump, panel
& new tank at safe site

16. Upper tank site water delivery
Storage tank – sign from
community meeting held
by Elisee Abraham
Spigot is gravity fed from
storage tank

17. Map of water system
Mon Bouton
Nelis’ house
New middle site
Abandoned
middle site
Source
reservoir
Upper site & spigot
Pumped flow
N
Gravity flow New lower site

18. Results to date
• 32 months from prototype to water delivery in Haiti
• Total cost about $8100 ($3000 in US for kits & shipping)
• Installation by 28 skilled (cement block construction) &
unskilled workers in 6 days
• Re-routing & re-assembly after rockslide cost $2100
• New route resulted in better upper site, closer to users
• Some features not installed (storm protection, charger)
• Measured delivery of 280-300 gallons (>1000 L) per day
• “Watermaster” Mesye Nelis oversees operation; has
repaired breaks in PVC pipe
• Kit components could be minimized by local metal
fabrication; kits can be easily replicated

19. Height & distance measurement
19 10/13/2014
distance height
traverse sine angle ft m ft m
source to lower tank 0.042 -2.39 425.7 129.8 17.74 5.4
lower to mid tank 0.528 31.86 308.5 94.0 162.82 49.6
mid to upper tank 0.556 33.75 269.6 82.2 149.78 45.7

20. Continued benefit
Water for bathing, laundry, cooking
20 10/13/2014

21. Acknowledgements & resources
• Jonathan Bass & Solar City - solar panel donation
• Margaret Fruth - donation of tools
• Jean Ronel Noel & ENERSA - assistance with customs
& transport in Haiti
• Other donors – technical & financial contributions
For more information:
www.ifpigscouldflyhaiti.org
www.haitinextdoor.org (blog)
www.causes.com/causes/529435-if-pigs-could-fly-haiti
If Pigs Could Fly-Haiti
4250 El Camino Real, C126, Palo Alto CA 94306