esw lbo final report

Engineers for a Sustainable World at CSULB

S.A.W. (Supplying Alternative Water) Project

For Long Beach Organic, Inc.

Project #WP003

Project Timeline:

June 28, 2015 - August 19, 2015

Report prepared by: Jess Gascon, Sohn Cook, Aum Gandhi, Jenny Sheng, Nhut Pham

Table of Contents:

Executive Summary Team Organization Team Background Project Timeline Timeline Details: Pre Assessment Post Assessment Lessons Learned: Bibliography: Appendix A-Design Drawings Appendix B-Sand Filter Calculations Appendix C-First Flush Calculations Appendix D-Budget Appendix E-Climate Summary Chart


Executive Summary: The Long Beach Organic Project (also known as the Supplying Alternative Water Project) was to design and implement a rainwater barrel catchment system with a primary filtration system at the Zaferia Junction Garden on 10th and Grand Avenue in Long Beach, CA. The system would augment the garden’s water supply and provide some relief to the 90 garden plots at the garden location.

Joe Corso, LBO’s garden director, was looking into the community for solutions on how to save water during the impending severe drought. According to US Climate Data’s website, the average precipitation is close to 12.25 inches, a very small amount (2015). Our project team got in contact with Joe’s request for proposals and suggested this system to the Board of Directors. We suggested a rainwater catchment system that would capture rainwater in gutters attached to the garden’s main shed to store in barrels for use during dry seasonal months.

Originally, this project was under another engineering organization called Engineers Without Borders—CSULB Chapter (EWB). This organization’s original team, which include Christian and Dillon detailed under “Team Background,” was responsible for the complete rainwater catchment system design. EWB then transferred the project to ESW in May 2015 when they were unable to implement the project with their resources.

According to the agreement, ESW was to take over the construction phase of the project from EWB. ESW also took control of the other aspects of the project, including further assessment, further calculations, and inventory acquisition. ESW was also granted access to use EWB’s agency account to reimburse and fund the project.


Team Organization: Christian, as Project Design Lead, was in charge of maintaining the organization and task management of the design team. He was also in charge of writing weekly agendas, assigning tasks to team members, and contacting outside organizations. Christian Braganza, Dillon O’Donohue, and Robert Aguilar were in charge of completing a design report that introduced three concept designs, their costs, and implementation timeline. Each person worked on each section of the report collectively. Benjamin Smith was in charge of following up with the team, giving advice and suggestions, and going over all project research and reports for integrity and accuracy. He was also in charge of approving all design aspects and changes. When the project was transferred to ESW, Aum Gandhi, the VP of Project Management for ESW took over as Project and Construction Lead. He was in charge of the project budget, weekly work task schedules, picking up materials, and acting as our point of contact. In addition, Robert from the EWB design team helped with the construction of the gutters and rain barrel systems.

Team Background: ● Christian Braganza is a junior year Civil Engineering major and was our Project Design

Lead. ● Dillon O’Donohue is a junior year Civil Engineering major and was our Co-Project

Design Lead. ● Aum Gandhi is a senior year Civil Engineering major and our Project and Construction

Lead. ● Robert Aguilar is a senior year Mechanical Engineering major and our construction

hand. ● Benjamin Smith, P.E. is an Assistant Engineer at OC Water District and our Technical

Lead.


Project Timeline:

Goal Ideal Date Actual Date Reason for Delay

Finalize measurements

7/12/2015 7/12/2015 No delay

Gutter cutting 7/19/2015 7/19/2015 No delay

Gutter installation 7/19/2015 7/26/2015 Extra work day

Sand Filter Preparation

8/2/2015 8/1/2015 Initiated backup diverter plan, sand filter calculations

Rain Barrel Preparation

8/9/2015 8/8/2015-8/9/2015 Gasket, drill bit issues

PVC installation 8/16/2015 8/15/2015-8/19/2015 See reason for delay below


Timeline Details:

1. Finalize Measurements [7/12/2015]: Summary: This is the day when it was decided that downspouts would be used in some way for the project due to being better available locally. Measurements were taken for the length and height of the shed and the distance between hanger installation points. Another crucial point to note is that city regulations on potential fire hazards required measuring the distance between the shed and the hedges behind the shed. This was done in order to determine whether the hedges would have to be trimmed in order to pass the 3 foot minimum. Current inventory was also assessed to make sure the project could progress without any issue.

Reason for Delay: N/A

2. Gutter Cutting [7/19/2015]:

Summary: On this short work day, the white steel gutters were sliced using a sawzall. This was done in order to lengthen the 10 feet gutters to 12 feet by attaching a 2 foot piece using slip joint collectors. Extra slip joint connectors were acquired on this day due to not having enough slip collectors. A hacksaw and sawzall made all the cuts, resulting in a lengthy cutting period.

Reason for Delay: Originally the gutters were supposed to be installed on this day, but the lack of time and premium cutting tools lengthened the cutting of the gutters. Much time and energy could have been saved by having a connection to a metal shop or access to a band saw. Buying these cutting tools was out of the question due to the high costs, especially those associated with a mechanical sawing tool of any kind, from a sawzall to a band saw.

3. Gutter Installation [7/26/2015]:

Summary: On this day, the cut gutters were put together using sealant. While the first gutter dried, the second one was sealed. The first gutter was then mounted on the wall, being held by one team member while two team members did the drilling. Both gutters were installed on this day. Reason for Delay: Lack of proper sealant was the primary reason for the delay. The sealant had a tar-like coloration and did not contain silicone, a material recommended for sealing any areas withstanding water pressure.


4. Sand Filter Preparation [8/2/2015]:

Summary: This day was scrapped all together due to the conclusion that a biosand filter would be financially and physically unfeasible. As the calculations in appendix B indicate, even a minimal amount of sand would have been financially expensive to acquire for two barrels and physically unfeasible due to the difficulty in maintaining sand and gravel on a quarterly basis. According to Bio Sand Filters, the typical amount of sand in a working filter should be approximately 50 cm (2012). References from a slightly older website indicate this value can be reduced to 40 cm without issue, but the sources are outdated by scientific standards (2004).The type of situation simply did not require a filter like a sand filter, a filter only good for removing bacteria efficiently. On this day, the intention was to slice the rain barrel a lid and determine how to gather all the necessary sand and gravel, but without the need to put sand and gravel into the barrels, there was no need to take the risk of having to manually saw a lid for the barrel. The sealed lid provided an advantage in security from vandalism and added safety from debris. Reason for Delay: To follow through on the promise of a filter, the backup filter plan was initiated. This backup plan was the first flush diverter system. The first flush diverter system would collect the dirty water from the first rain into a separate chamber, then seal itself with a ball mechanism controlled by buoyancy, allowing a much cleaner and debris free water to flow into the barrels. The minimum rate of diversion is said to be 1 gallon per square root of surface (2012). However, according to the calculations done in Appendix B for the first flush, 2 feet of PVC for the chamber was sufficient to match a minimal pollution classified environment like the open field shed (2015). As for the purchased sand and gravel, Long Beach Organic did not charge ESW, already having planned to use the surplus material to build a pond in the garden.

5. Rain Barrel Preparation [8/8/2015-8/9/2015]:

Summary: On this day, the first rain barrel attachment holes were made. This workday turned into two workdays due to several mishaps, including an uncharged drill and drilling incorrect hole sizes. The first flush diverter kits also arrived on this day. Reason for Delay: We determined that the addition of one extra barrel meant acquiring additional gasket plugs in order to properly fit all the 1’’ PVC pipes. This delayed rain barrel preparation into the final work week.

6. PVC Installation [8/15/2015-8/19/2015]:

Summary: The final stretch of the project required 3 days to complete, finishing completely on the 19th of August. With the arrival of the required PVC, the first flush systems were installed, and the rain barrel holes were finished. The PVC items were all glued together using primer and solvent cement. The ground was effectively leveled


prior to rain barrel interconnection via 1’’ PVC. Cinder blocks provided ample foundation for the rain barrels, but earthquake straps are recommended in the future if vandalism is a concern. Water was poured into the barrels using a hose after proper curing of the primer and cement in order to test out the system. The testing went off without any major concerns. Minor concerns were small leaks near the slip collectors, but this issue was resolved using caulk. Reason for Delay: The main cause of this long stretch was the concern of distance between the first flush diverter chamber and the wall. Due to availability and cost advantages, the downspout elbows were made the choice for bringing the chambers closer to the wall in order to bracket them in for strong vertical support.


Pre Assessment:

As shown in appendix A, the initial plan was to use 45 degree bends and install a PVC-based system on to the rain barrels on the left and right end. The barrels would be interconnected using 1’’ PVC schedule 40 pipes. Each rain barrel would have a faucet installed on it, while the left and rightmost barrels would include overflow holes in case of extreme rains. The plan failed to regard three important factors, the foundation of the soil, the distance between the gutter installation points and the shed wall, and the compatibility of PVC piping with gutters. Post Assessment: The plan changed due to factors that were not accounted for. These factors are the soil foundation, the distance between the gutter installation points and the shed wall, and the compatibility of PVC piping with gutters. The foundation of the soil was primarily clay, a component of soil that can make minor changes to the foundation of the ground. When the foundation becomes wet, the clay soil expands and the foundation lifts. When the foundation becomes dry, it contracts and the foundation sinks (Tamu). In order to provide stability to the ground beneath the barrels, the ground was leveled and cinder block foundations were placed. The next two issues were resolved with the mixed installation of downspout and PVC instead of the pure PVC option in the design. Metal downspout elbows were attached to the GSgutter drops and screwed into each other to provide a solid connection. This method also brought the pipe system close enough to bracket and secure it into the shed wall, which was not included in the original design. We still encountered issues attaching a metal downspout to the PVC material, despite using a downspout attachment to resolve initial connectivity issues between the piping and gutter drop. To connection the two together, the elbow was connected to the T junction from the diverter kit using self-tapping screws, leaving a small space for debris to get in, but with a high chance of said debris falling into the diverter chamber. In conclusion, expectations for the project were matched, but only with the inclusion of factors not previously accounted for. Lessons Learned:

● Expect shipping delays with online orders. ● Set realistic timelines that include timely delays such as shipping, weather, schedule

conflicts, etc. Include a backup plan for delays (days, weeks). Assign responsibility for holding onto materials and tools during delays.

● Buy extra parts of any multiples of small items such as screws and connectors in case you lose, misplace, or need extras.

● Secure all purchased materials in a safe location. ● Prepare and purchase all tools before the first construction day. ● Know how to properly use power tools and have someone supervise. ● Complete a proper and thorough safety inspection during your assessment trip to

determine the safety equipment needed for construction.


● Have all calculations checked and accounted for along with references before purchasing materials.

● File all reimbursement and budget sheets with the VP of Finances early on in the project so there’s less recuperating and backtracking later on.

● Delegate tasks among your team members such as having at least 2 people complete the timeline, budget, or materials list, rather than doing everything yourself.

● Start on the project reporting process early.


Bibliography:

"Average Annual Precipitation for Cities in California." Average Yearly Precipitation for California Cities. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2015. "Downspout First Flush Water Diverter Kit 3"" Rain Brothers, LLC Warehouse. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2015. <http://store.rainbrothers.com/downspout-first-flush-water-diverter-kit-3/>. "How Many Cubic Feet Are in a 55-gallon Drum?" Ask. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2015. <http://www.ask.com/science/many-cubic-feet-55-gallon-drum-8978d1f2cd7fdbb6>. "How Was the Biosand Filter Pore Volume Determined?" How Was the Biosand Filter Pore Volume Determined? N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2015. "Long Beach, CA Climate." Long Beach, CA Climate. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2015. "Quikrete 50 Lb. All-Purpose Gravel-115150 - The Home Depot." The Home Depot. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2015. <http://www.homedepot.com/p/Quikrete-50-lb-All-Purpose-Gravel-115150/100318444>. "Quikrete 50 Lb. All-Purpose Sand-115251 - The Home Depot." The Home Depot. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2015. <http://www.homedepot.com/p/Quikrete-50-lb-All-Purpose-Sand-115251/100318450>. "Rainwater Harvesting First Flush Diverter." Rainwater Harvesting First Flush Diverter. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2015. <http://slowsandfilter.org/first_flush_diverter.html>. "Sand as a Filter Media." Biosand Filter. N.p., 2004. Web. 21 Aug. 2015. <http://www.biosandfilter.org/biosandfilter/index.php/item/289#ref_01>. "Temperature - Precipitation - Sunshine - Snowfall." Climate Long Beach. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2015. "Total Porosity." Environmental Science Division (EVS). Argonne National Laboratory, n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2015. <http://web.ead.anl.gov/resrad/datacoll/porosity.htm>. "Water, Engineering and Development Centre." Welcome to WEDC. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2015. <http://wedc.lboro.ac.uk/>. "Watering Foundation - Protecting Foundations during Drought." Texas AM AgriLife Water Education Network. N.p., 15 Jan. 2014. Web. 21 Aug. 2015. "What Is the Minimum Depth of Filtration Sand, Underdrain Gravel and Separating Gravel? (particularly When Designing a Non-standard Biosand Filter)." What Is the Minimum Depth of


Filtration Sand, Underdrain Gravel and Separating Gravel? (Particularly When Designing a Non-standard Biosand Filter). N.p., July 2012. Web. 21 Aug. 2015. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 21 Aug. 2015. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallon#cite_note-15USC205-5>.


Appendix A-Design Drawing

[Double-click to view in Acrobat] (1 page)


Appendix B-Sand Filter Calculations:

[Double-click to view in Acrobat] (2 pages)


Appendix C-First Flush Calculations

[Double-click to view in Acrobat] (4 pages)


Appendix D-Budget

[Double-click to view in Acrobat] (1 page)


Appendix E-Climate Summary Chart

Figure 1: Typical weather patterns in Long Beach area. http://www.climatespy.com/climate/summary/united-states/california/long-beach


http://www.climatespy.com/climate/summary/united-states/california/long-beach

http://www.climatespy.com/climate/summary/united-states/california/long-beach

esw lbo final report

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