10 Blog Monitoring Malingua Yaku Potable Source Water Area

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Technical monitoring blog here, so as they say, "get yer nerd on."

Malingua Yaku is one of several water source areas, in this case Paulino thought a good place to discuss their intake technology and sediment problems, one of my techical goals. Area is described in March 2009 EWB report, including photos, and supplies the D1 and D3 potable water systems (see Appendix C in March 2009 EWB report). This area is sometimes called "Pucara Springs" in reports.

Source water is captured in several springs at toe of cliffs of resistant volcanic layer in very steep drainage between hills at ~3,600 meters (11,850 to 12,000 feet). Source area is protected by conservation ageement (note fencing in photos more in another blog) and, after some serious issues about 10 years ago, now offers very high quality drinking water (agua dulce).

Plumbing is complex, reflecting several generations of concrete work, piping, and various efforts to keep water quality as good as possible. While reviewing the sites, Paulino and i discussed different strategies for collecting water and noted that trying to capture as much surface water as possible generally leads to increased sediment/leaves/twigs that complicate maintenance. Maintenance is on-going and often requires visits more than once per week.

Intakes 1 (Fuente Yanasanga) and 2 have problems with leaves clogging intake screens, intakes 3, 4, and 5 have more issues with silt and fine sand. Intake 4 is an infiltration system.

Intake 4 (in order of my visits, located low in the intake area at 00.82267 degrees South and 78.85049 degrees West at 3612 meters elevation, +/- 3 meters with 4 satelites > 50%) is set at the low end of a recent, moderate-sized (for around here) landslide, and consists of a 2-inch PVC line, buried 10-50 cm below ground surface, with 1 cm slot cut on top and rock set above. Passes lots of fine sand even though the water percolates through small wetland area.

Paulino asked to guide a Minga (community work day) to replace one of the intakes with an alternative infiltration system, focusing on Intake 4 as best test case. Recognizing the interesting challenges

if we could replace Intake 4 which presented some interesting technical challenges, including last minute materials from Latacunga, but i could not pass up the opportunity to see if we can reduce the sediment load while maintaining clean water flow. This will be subject of another blog soon.

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