Javier, a volunteer engineer, helped a non-profit organization in Mexico called CATIS improve access to safe drinking water for rural communities. He set up a laboratory to test water quality, assessed options for a ceramic water filter to remove arsenic and fluoride, and trained local communities on the filter's use and good hygiene practices. The ceramic water filter combined with rainwater harvesting helps communities avoid dependence on contaminated groundwater. Community groups now monitor the system and provide feedback to CATIS for continued improvements.

1. Clay Water Filter Improvement | Javier Sierra
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
The volunteer
Impact on the
volunteer
Mexico’s hydraulic resources
are threatened by scarcity, poor
quality and pollution. Aquifers have
been extensively exploited and
contaminated by human activities.
On top of this, the Mexican National
Water Commission estimates that
in Mexico over half of all superficial
The place
water, which eventually reaches
aquifers, is very polluted. While
Mexico has a dense legal code to
protect its environmental resources,
the reality is that protecting water
resources in the country is very
difficult due to budget constraints
and sometimes corruption.
The reason The Project Impact on the
communityJavier is a Building Services
Engineer based in the Arup Cardiff
office. He has significant experience
in the design of electrical services
in Spain, Mexico and UK. Prior to
joining Arup, Javier worked for a
year as an ICT consultant in Mexico
City.
Javier completed a three months
placement in Mexico in 2013 as
a volunteer engineer offered by
Engineers without Borders UK and
RedR as part of the Future Relief
Worker Scheme. The placement
was arranged with the partner
organisation CATIS (Centre for
Appropriate Technologies and
Indigenous Sustainability). CATIS is
a Non-Profit Organisation running
numerous projects which are aimed
at improving the life standards in
rural communities in Central Mexico.
The projects’ range cover areas
like compressed earth building
techniques, organic agriculture,
water filtration and sustainable kiln
designs. The CATIS project site is
located in San Miguel de Allende, in
the State of Guanajuato, Mexico.
Lack of access to safe water
due to depleted aquifers and
contamination.
Communities can now access
a sustainable source of water.
The ceramic water filter is being
deployed alongside rainwater
harvesting systems (part of a
separate project founded by the
Rotary Club in San Miguel de
Allende). The ceramic filter removes
the bacteria that may grow in the
rainwater harvesting systems.
Combining the use of both ceramic
filters and rainwater harvesting
systems helps the local communities
avoid their dependence on
groundwater for their water supply.
The ceramic filter is also being
delivered to Primary and Secondary
Schools. Javier presented training
sessions in the schools in order to
encourage the use of the filter in the
children’s houses as well.
“Since University, I have always
been keen on getting involved in
international development activities.
When the opportunity arose for
applying my skills and previous
experience living in Mexico, I had
no doubts that this was a great
opportunity for me. The outcome
could not have been more
satisfactory as the placement has
enhanced my understating of the
challenges faced in many areas of
the world with regards to access to
water, food and sanitation. I have
also learned how important it is to
engage with the local community to
ensure the successful completion
of projects. Experiencing first-hand
the positive impact of the work I
was carrying out with the partner
organisation was a very positive
experience”.
San Miguel de Allende is a UNESCO
World Heritage Site which has
influenced the Mexican history since
the Colonial period. Nowadays San
Miguel is a thriving community which
is at the forefront of sustainable
and relief work activities in Central
Mexico. There is a large number
of non-profit organisations
implementing numerous projects
covering areas as healthcare,
sanitation, environment protection
and education. Access to safe
water is a challenge that many
communities are facing in the State
of Guanajuato.
Javier’s work consisted in setting
up a laboratory for microbiological
water testing, assessing options for
the development of a ceramic filter
for effective Arsenic and Fluoride
removal and delivering training to
local communities. The training
sessions covered the use of the
ceramic water filter, sanitation and
good hygiene routines for the safe
handling of water and food.
Community Organisation Groups
have been created in order to
monitor the use of the filter systems
and communicate effectively with
CATIS staff regarding suggestions
for improving its design.
Bottled water not being affordable
for the families in rural communities
CATIS are now able to run
microbiological tests in-house and
obtain results within 24 hours from
water samples’ collection. This is
improving the detection of unsafe
water sources and implementing
correction measures with the
collaboration of the Community
Organisation Groups.