How to achieve the Achinakom Model?

The Achinakom Model

The past week of Onam holiday offered me a chance to step back and reflect on the project’s progress thus far. The day after Eli and Andrea left, I traveled to Haripad and met with one of our advisors, Dr. Anil Kumar from MS Swaminathan Research Foundation. I returned to MGU with a clearer idea of how the project could proceed. Dr. Kumar suggested convening a high level meeting with senior representatives from every involved partner and stakeholder namely MGU School of Environmental Sciences, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, Women’s self-help group, Achinakom Local Committee, Vechoor Panchayath representative, and Brown team. The pilot model will take about 2 years to show its track record. Rainwater for Humanity is a collective effort, and thus the decisions should be made collectively as well. The meeting will lay out the roles and responsibilities that each party should take up. In addition, the meeting will set targets, milestones and timelines attached to each of them. The next step is then to derive strategies to achieve each of those targets or milestones.

Elephant in a SNDP parade in front of MGU during Onam

The meeting will lay down the incremental steps needed from each partner during the next 2 years needed to achieve our vision, the Achinakom Model. Ideally, the meeting can happen at around the same time as the opening ceremony of the rainwater harvesting system in Achinakom.

The system tilts

On Sunday, Sylas, Dr. John and myself went to Achinakom to 1) check on the system and 2) conducted a meeting with the Achinakom Local Committee and the mason to determine the remaining construction schedule. Due to a number of unexpected technical difficulties, the total construction cost has exceeded the original estimation. The total cost of the system is now Rs 165,000, an increase of about 25% from the estimation. As a measure to cut costs from hiring labor, the beneficiaries have agreed to take turns to help with the construction. In return, we shall provide the participating beneficiaries a living stipend. The mason has also guaranteed to complete the system within the upcoming seven days.

The tilting of the system has increased significantly compared to last week. On the western end, the system’s shell has detached from the canal wall and is uplifted to about 10 cm above ground. (See video) The mason explained that the uplifting are due to 1) the higher water pressure from the western end closer to the canals and 2) a heavier weight in the eastern end as more cement has been applied there. In order to ascertain the structure’s integrity, we went to speak with Dr. George Abe (an engineer and scientist of the CWRDM Kottayam sub-center) on Tuesday. He confirmed that the system shall sit once it is filled with water. The structural integrity of the system is still sound, since no crack develops though the system is uplifted by water. We also discussed several versions of the second generation prototypes with him. Mainly, we have been brainstorming several designs with different combinations of 1) using clay or jute bags filled with sand as cushion, 2) precast concrete rings or rubber tires as skeleton, and 3) silpaulin as the water proof membrane.

The system is uplifted for about 10 cm in the western end.

Dr. Abe suggested looking into a type of grass called Vetiver, locally known as Raamacham. It is commonly used for soil stabilization, water conservation and water treatment. Vetiver is non-invasive and can grow in extreme conditions; it has deep roots and can be used for handicrafts making or perfume production, making vetiver an appealing candidate to preventing surface water run-off.  See overview slideshow or learn more at Vetiver Organization.  

In addition, he highlighted that the transportation cost of bulky materials might outweigh the economic benefits of their cheap prices. He mentioned a NGO operating in the area known as Anthyodhaya which sells ready-made 5,000L capacity above-ground ferrocement tanks. We should compare the costs and make sure that the new design is more cost effective.

Sylas and Achinakom villagers inspecting the system

The next steps

The pursuit to design an affordable and durable rainwater harvesting system in the Kuttanad wetland area continues to be challenging and exciting. We shall learn and incorporate local technologies along the way. The immediate next step is to start conducting small-scale components mock-ups. We are building the MGU R4H team too. Sylas and myself have been brainstorming what the format of the first meeting should be, the type of materials to include and the type of activities that will create self-motivation. Any suggestions out there?

How are the Brown R4H team members doing? All the best with the semester ahead!