1.1 Problem Statement

Hurricanes can lead to destruction in homes and can lead to hazard drinking water for people in Puerto Rico. Wells are also often unreliable as they have been contaminated with solvents and cleaning compounds since the 1980s (Laskow, 2018). As we have seen in the media, Puerto Rico needs our help with including new water purification systems. Yearly tropical storms can damage old water pipes in Puerto Rico, which is why we would like to include newly designed water purification systems in Yauco, Puerto Rico. We future Biomedical, Chemical, and Mechanical engineers are able to help the community of Yauco. Gathering information on the location of Yauco can help us identify the exact materials needed. The process can take over several years and replacing water pipes can lead to more damage if broken. The budget can be pricey, but this is due to equipment being brought and making sure that the systems is durable and hopefully lifetime guarantee. Which is why we would like to include new gallons, water tanks.

1.2 Background

The town that we have decided on is Yauco Puerto Rico, but specifically the canton of Naranjo, Yauco. We have decided on this area because the southwest of Puerto Rico is usually underrepresented when there is a natural disaster since it’s not the capital of San Juan. The island is in the heart of seasonal hurricanes, which to reiterate is known for costly damages to fix, and can prevent the island from becoming more sustainable due to destruction. This means that people in Yauco are in desperate need for new and clean water purification systems.

1.3 Need Statement

Typical water pipes are not stable enough during a massive tropical storm. A hurricane can last over a week but the damages can for years and maybe even decades. Due to this, it’s impossible for a few leaders in Puerto Rico to go door to door to millions of Puerto Ricans after a hurricane and to ask them what they need because that will take time. A few thousand or millions in Puerto Ricans may receive the aid but the ones who are left out are the ones in underrepresented rural areas like Yauco. This is where H2Oasis comes in and is asking for the need of installations of water purification systems in Yauco, Puerto Rico. Yauco needs durable water purification systems that can hopefully be a lifetime guarantee.

1.4 Objective

During the start of the project, H2Oasis will test the previous water in systems after a storm, the current drinking water, as well as the water after the installation of the water purification system. The first few weeks would also be the arrival of H2Oasis to Puerto Rico. The planning process would also be the need for our intended audience as H2Oasis has stated in our memo to address the community that construction would occur in the town of Naranjo, Yauco. Also to notify the community of Yauco the distribution of monthly barrels of clean water. The purpose of this is to prevent confusion from the community of Yauco.