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InnovationYear 2 Number 19 | November 5, 2007A way of lifeBy Jaime Parada  One of the strategies being promoted in Nuevo Leon is the development of innovations based on alternative technologies with the objective of improving the quality of life in marginalized communities. One of the priorities is guaranteeing access to potable water in rural areas, where current coverage is 70%. To reach the remaining 30%, it is necessary to generate sustainable technological advances at low cost and with simple maintenance. The task is challenging, but feasible. One of the key players to accomplish this task is the Water Institute of Nuevo Leon (IANL), currently working in association with universities and businesses to carry out applied research projects in accord with the State's conditions. The IANL, which operates independently from Water and Sewage Services of Monterrey, contributes to the promotion of integral development of populations, since a community without water is doomed to remain in backwardness. The aeolic potabilizer at the San Felipe "ejido" and the dry toilet project are examples of what can be accomplished when the Government, universities, and the private sector work together to generate a strategy aimed at offering improvement alternatives to less favored populations, regardless of their size and geographical location. The most interesting aspect of these projects is that they lead to the development of parts, instruments, and equipment that are appropriate for each case's requirements. Consequently, we are generating patentable innovations. San Felipe is the spearhead of a collaboration scheme that can be successfully replicated in other communities in Nuevo Leon. The only requirement is initiative, team work, and the participation of those who will receive the benefits.
USING THE SUN AND THE WIND TO PRODUCE POTABLE WATER"We collect rain water to make our existence possible."This legend was etched in the pages of history on August 31, 2007, the day when the tank that holds 281,580 liters of rain water suitable for human consumption was inaugurated. And it is not just a phrase, but a true reflection of the way of life in San Felipe, an "ejido" in Dr. Arroyo, the home of 22 families totaling 72 people. Most of them are women and children because almost all the men have to go away to work in other places. Francisco Cruz-Diaz is one of the few men left. He was born here and has lived here all of his 64 years. "I had to suffer in order to get water. We had to go by donkey to the water springs; and if there wasn't any there, we had to go and look in another place." The situation improved when the roof-basin began to operate, but it is only now that people in San Felipe will know what it is to have running water in the community taps.
This if the first place in the State to have a aeolic potabilizer. With this technology it is possible to provide water of excellent quality by coupling a wind mill to an inverse osmosis unit, without the need for electric energy. Everything is driven by the wind and the sun. Belzahet Treviño-Arjona, General Director of the Nuevo Leon Institute of Water (IANL), explained that the system was developed in conjunction with the Engineering and Architecture Division (DIA) of the Monterrey Tech, which launched the "Water and Life" project in San Felipe on January 19, 1996. "The Engineering Division of UDEM is participating also. They are redesigning the wind mill blades so that it generates more power with less wind," he added.
The IANL installed the first system of this type, almost two years ago, in Cerrito de Agua Caliente [Hill of Hot Water], in Cueramaro, Guanajuato, a 500-people village that only has water with arsenic. "To this day," said Treviño-Arjona, "everything has worked in compliance with the established parameters." "We use telemetry to monitor the system via Internet. We know how many liters of water it produces, whether there was wind or not, the amount of water in the storage tank, and its quality," he explained. The aeolic potabilizer is capable of meeting the needs of communities ranging from 70 to 5,000 inhabitants. "In Nuevo Leon's case, we are asking for the support of the National Water Commission in order to transfer this technology to 216 rural communities. By doing this, we would have 99% potable water coverage," said the executive. An aeolic potabilizer plant costs around $200,000 Mexican pesos and can be used in any location having water with low concentrations of contaminants. This is a low-cost, easy to operate proposal, requiring minimal investment for equipment maintenance.
NON-POTABLE WATER
A NEW EXPERIENCE LIVING CONDITIONS IN SAN FELIPE
UNA NUEVA EXPERIENCIA
DRY TOILET DEVELOPEDAlmost half of the water consumed in an average home is used for the toilets. "It is not logical to use drinking water to get rid of human waste, but that is what we have been doing for over 100 years," stated Belzahet Treviño-Arjona, Director of the Nuevo Leon Institute of Water (IANL).  He added that Japan and some European countries have ample experience in the development of alternative systems, from the traditional latrine to a computerized toilet that works without water and may cost about $5,000 USD. In Mexico, a predecessor of the dry ecological toilet also exists, which is a modified version of the Vietnamese latrine, created by Nguyen Dang Duc in the decade of the 50's. "We redesigned a bio-sanitary model patented in Japan in order to create a system suitable for the climate and economic conditions of Nuevo Leon. The idea is that it works with alternative sources of energy for it to be completely sustainable and environment friendly," explained Treviño-Arjona. This project, launched in 2005, is carried out by the IANL, the Center of Water Studies (CEA) of Monterrey Tech, and the Lamosa company. "We have made the first model already, and we are evaluating its operation at IANL's offices," said the executive. Regarding its physical characteristics, the dry toilet is very similar to a traditional one, but it works with an external container. The container has a sawdust mixture and a heater to degrade liquid and solid waste, without using even one drop of water. "It is like having a waste treatment plant under the toilet," explained Treviño-Arjona. The equipment being tested at the IANL works with electricity, but researchers have managed to make the system work with solar energy. "We are also looking for materials that will enable us to develop a system costing no more than $16,000 Mexican pesos, which is the cost of building a traditional latrine," expressed the executive. Treviño-Arjona mentioned that the dry toilet is ideal for rural areas, but it can be used in urban areas for the purpose of reducing potable water consumption and waste water treatment costs.
FUTURE EVENTS NOVEMBER 5, 2007 - JANUARY 6, 2008 NOVEMBER 7 NOVEMBER 8 NOVEMBER 28–29
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