Rehabilitating a Watershed in the Dominican Republic

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By Jan Surface, F2F Volunteer in the Dominican Republic 

This past January, F2F volunteer, Jan Marie Surface traveled to the Dominican Republic, where she worked with Plan Yaque on recommendations to improve water quality within the Yaque del Norte watershed. Plan Yaque is a non-governmental institution that combines efforts between the State and Civil Society for the protection, conservation, and sustainable management of natural resources of the Yaque del Norte River Basin. Its fundamental purpose is to contribute to regional and national development towards the construction of a better and sustainable quality of life in the Dominican Republic.

During her stay, Jan Marie provided examples on how to set up photo-monitoring points; a list of references for best management practices to improve water quality, tips for writing grants, equipment recommendations for their new water quality lab, and UV treatment recommendations.
One of the highlights of her trip, was meeting with Williams Hernandez (Plan Yaque Coordinator of Water and Sanitation Program) to see a septic tank plus wetland cell treatment system currently under construction for sewage treatment at the newly constructed relocation community for families who are currently living illegally in a National Park. Fifty-two houses have been constructed for 350 people and each family will be provided 629m2 of land for agricultural production.

[Left] 6-cell septic tank under construction [Right] Jan Marie Surface (blue hat on left) discusses system with Williams Hernandez (Plan Yaque; orange hard hat) and resident workers
The wastewater treatment system for the project is designed as a gravity flow system starting with a 6 cells septic tank to settle out all the solids and begin anaerobic digestion. The liquid waste will then flow through a constructed wetland consisting of a gravel substrate and vetiver plants. The wetland treatment system was sized (load calculations) and designed by Plan Yaque staff. As designed, the treatment system will address nutrient issues, but it will not treat bacteria. Jan Marie researched alternatives for providing tertiary Ultra Violet bacteria treatment and provided those recommendations to Plan Yaque.

[Left] Williams Hernandez (Plan Yaque) and Jan Marie Surface (F2F volunteer) discuss wetland treatment system [Right] Wetland cell has been leveled and is ready for gravel substrate and plants.

 Jan Surface is a watershed planning specialist at the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Little Rock, Arkansas. This was her second F2F trip to the Dominican Republic and assignment with Plan Yaque on this topic. 




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