Place of Action: La Guajira, Colombia
La Guajira is a department of Colombia. It occupies most of the Guajira Peninsula in the northeast region of the country, on the Caribbean Sea and bordering Venezuela, at the northernmost tip of South America. The capital city of the department is Riohacha.
The economy of the department is mostly based on royalties from the coal mining at Cerrejón (producing 24.9 million tons of export coal in 2004), Natural gas exploitation and salt mines.
The economy of the department is mostly based on royalties from the coal mining at Cerrejón (producing 24.9 million tons of export coal in 2004), Natural gas exploitation and salt mines.
Climate:
Its climate stands out in possessing all the characteristics of the intertropical zone with average temperatures between 22 and 40 ° C. In its ecological characteristics is variety of terrestrial ecosystems, among the most prevalent are the desert, the dry jungle and wet mountain.
In its hydrological characteristics, it counts on water tanks like aquifer wells and little lakes or “jagüeyes” that provide water to the communities. The main rivers are the Ranchería and the Cesar.
It only rains between September and December, it is the driest region in Colombia.
In its hydrological characteristics, it counts on water tanks like aquifer wells and little lakes or “jagüeyes” that provide water to the communities. The main rivers are the Ranchería and the Cesar.
It only rains between September and December, it is the driest region in Colombia.
Drought in La Guajira:
In 2014, La Guajira was declared in state of emergency because of the drought. The indigenous wayuu representatives denounced the isolation and oblivion they’ve been suffering by the Colombian government.
Desalinating Prototype:
How it works:
This prototype
is based on the difference of pressures between the hot zone (ceramic plate with salt water) and the cold zone (ceramic jar with a small hole to allow
air flow). The difference of pressures leads the water vapor into de cold ceramic jar and there it starts condensating and falling to the bottom where the clean water is collected.
The efficiency
of the device is increased with the use of sponges that provide a
greater evaporation surface and absorb water by capillarity.
This system, with the right proportions, could be able to collect up to 8 liters of water in a day.
Materials of the zone:
Ceramic: Wayuu indigenous people have a strong tradition with ceramic, that's why we
decided to use this material for our prototype, since they could
manufacture it themselves with the means they have.
Pressed soil: They use a construction system based in pressed soil and wood, so they are able to make part of the prototype this way.
Homemade prototype:
Materials:
- Plastic/aluminium plate
- Plastic bag
- Plastic bottle (1L)
- Sponges
- Sellotape
- Silicone gun
Due to the lack of sunshine in Brussels, we use an infrarred bulb to heat the prototype and see the results.
