Day 2 - Water Pollution: B4 - Build Better Biodegradable Bathrooms
Water Pollution problem it addresses:
This project deals with human fecal coliforms in the water at Puento Roto, the most popular recreational swimming area in El Yunque Forest. Currently, there are no restroom facilities there or anywhere nearby.
Location at EYF:
Puento Roco Recreational swimming area on PR 988 in El Yunque Forest
Who benefits from project: (describe)
a. EYF Animals and Plants
Animals and plants benefit because they won't be infected or injured. In turn, this protects the food chain.
b. Visitors
Visitors will have a safe place to go tot he bathroom that won't hurt the ecosystem. When they swim, they won't be infected with bacteria.
c. Puerto Ricans outside El Yunque Forest
Puerto Ricans outside the Forest won't have a dirty, poisoned water source and an infected environment.
Detailed Project Description:
a. What is being created?
Currently there are no bathrooms at the most popular recreational swimming location in the Forest. It is important to build biodegradable bathrooms/outhouses that are safe for the environment and comfortable for the users. Build separate outhouses for adults (men and women), and children (boys and girls) and a diaper changing area as well. Provide swim diapers free of charge. Place garbage bins in the area for the diapers and other trash. Create user-friendly instructions in English and Spanish with pictures to teach how to use the biodegradable bathrooms. Place age-appropriate pictures and signs on the different bathrooms, to "attract" users ("Elmo" on baby bathroom; Princess on girl's room' Star Wars characters on young boys rooms). Have hand sanitizers like Purell, that does not require paper or plumbing. Be sure any dripping is not going to damage the soil underneath. Outhouses will be placed on wooden platforms to hep minimize soil erosion.
b .Describe the outcome and how it addresses the water pollution problem:
Four biodegradable outhouses plus a baby diaper outhouse will be built on platforms, to minimize soil erosion and encourage visitors to "relieve themselves" there, and not in the river. Water pollution resulting from human waste will be eliminated if human fecal coliforms are not in the water.
List different parts of project that eco-tourists will work on as teams
a.Team 1: Build platforms and create signs with instructions in Spanish and English and create pictures for Teams 2 and 3.
b. Team 2: Build men's and women's outhouses
c. Team 3: Build boys and girls outhouses
d. Team 4: Build baby changing room and make instructional signage in two languages.
Skills used:
Light carpentry, painting, sanding, artwork, creation of educatinal signage
HIGHLIGHT all that apply: (Ecology, sociology, education, economic, political)
Ecology - help the ecosystem, eliminate human fecal coliforms in the water
Sociology - work in cross-cutural groups
Education - instructions for use and the importance of using the outhouses
Besides their own groups, who else will they work with?
Work with local Puerto Rican high school students and local carpenters. The students will help to create the Spanish signage, plus allow some cross-cultural exchange with the American students.
This project deals with human fecal coliforms in the water at Puento Roto, the most popular recreational swimming area in El Yunque Forest. Currently, there are no restroom facilities there or anywhere nearby.
Location at EYF:
Puento Roco Recreational swimming area on PR 988 in El Yunque Forest
Who benefits from project: (describe)
a. EYF Animals and Plants
Animals and plants benefit because they won't be infected or injured. In turn, this protects the food chain.
b. Visitors
Visitors will have a safe place to go tot he bathroom that won't hurt the ecosystem. When they swim, they won't be infected with bacteria.
c. Puerto Ricans outside El Yunque Forest
Puerto Ricans outside the Forest won't have a dirty, poisoned water source and an infected environment.
Detailed Project Description:
a. What is being created?
Currently there are no bathrooms at the most popular recreational swimming location in the Forest. It is important to build biodegradable bathrooms/outhouses that are safe for the environment and comfortable for the users. Build separate outhouses for adults (men and women), and children (boys and girls) and a diaper changing area as well. Provide swim diapers free of charge. Place garbage bins in the area for the diapers and other trash. Create user-friendly instructions in English and Spanish with pictures to teach how to use the biodegradable bathrooms. Place age-appropriate pictures and signs on the different bathrooms, to "attract" users ("Elmo" on baby bathroom; Princess on girl's room' Star Wars characters on young boys rooms). Have hand sanitizers like Purell, that does not require paper or plumbing. Be sure any dripping is not going to damage the soil underneath. Outhouses will be placed on wooden platforms to hep minimize soil erosion.
b .Describe the outcome and how it addresses the water pollution problem:
Four biodegradable outhouses plus a baby diaper outhouse will be built on platforms, to minimize soil erosion and encourage visitors to "relieve themselves" there, and not in the river. Water pollution resulting from human waste will be eliminated if human fecal coliforms are not in the water.
List different parts of project that eco-tourists will work on as teams
a.Team 1: Build platforms and create signs with instructions in Spanish and English and create pictures for Teams 2 and 3.
b. Team 2: Build men's and women's outhouses
c. Team 3: Build boys and girls outhouses
d. Team 4: Build baby changing room and make instructional signage in two languages.
Skills used:
Light carpentry, painting, sanding, artwork, creation of educatinal signage
HIGHLIGHT all that apply: (Ecology, sociology, education, economic, political)
Ecology - help the ecosystem, eliminate human fecal coliforms in the water
Sociology - work in cross-cutural groups
Education - instructions for use and the importance of using the outhouses
Besides their own groups, who else will they work with?
Work with local Puerto Rican high school students and local carpenters. The students will help to create the Spanish signage, plus allow some cross-cultural exchange with the American students.