Trine engineers return to Ecuador to assist with clean drinking water

TUNTATACTO, Ecuador — For the second time, Trine University engineering students are working to help improve an Ecuadorian community’s access to clean drinking water.

Students from the university’s Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Student Chapter recently returned from the rural community of Tuntatacto, nestled in the scenic Andes highlands about 130 miles south of Quito.

Tuntatacto, home to approximately 1,200 residents, relies heavily on agriculture and livestock, cultivating crops such as corn, beans, onions and potatoes, and raising animals including chickens, cows, rabbits and guinea pigs.

Currently, the community’s drinking water comes from spring water that flows by gravity to storage tanks located above the town, before being distributed to homes. However, during the dry season, the spring’s flow becomes insufficient to meet demand.

It’s the second such project Trine teams have conducted in Ecuador. From 2017-2022, teams from Trine’s student chapter of EWB worked in tandem with the Indianapolis professional chapter of EWB to increase the amount and quality of drinking water for the community of Comuna Guangaje, another remote village in Ecuador.

The final Trine team to visit Comuna Guangaje found that efforts to improve its drinking water supply exceeded expectations.

Meaningful impact

In June, four Trine students, EWB faculty advisor Tim Tyler, Ph.D., PE, and Veronika Meyer, a water resource engineer from the City of Fort Wayne, traveled to Tuntatacto to assess the situation and collaborate with local residents.

Emma-Lyn Stephenson, a civil engineering major from Cadott, Wisconsin, said she was interested in the opportunities offered by EWB even before she committed to a university.

“During college tours, I kept hearing about the incredible experiences EWB provides,” she said. “It is not just hands-on engineering. It is a chance to contribute to global service, grow as a leader and make a meaningful impact.”

Livia Montgomery, a mechanical engineering major from Collinsville, Illinois, heard about EWB during freshman orientation.

“I discovered that I could apply the knowledge I am gaining in my major to help others in a meaningful way,” she said. “It was an amazing opportunity to use my engineering skills to make a real impact.”

Thomas Loeffler, an electrical engineering major from Auburn, Indiana, heard about the Ecuador trip during the Solid Mechanics class he took with Tyler. Several factors encouraged him to participate.

“First, it was an incredible opportunity to apply my engineering knowledge to an international humanitarian project,” he said. “Second, I was excited to travel to a beautiful country with amazing views, especially since I had never been outside the U.S. Lastly, doing it all as part of a student team led by a professor made it even more meaningful.”

Ayana Ihara, a biomedical engineering major from South Lyon, Michigan, was drawn to the trip by the opportunity to use her engineering background to support the community’s access to clean water.

“It was a great opportunity to use what I’ve learned to help solve real-world problems and to work directly with people affected by those challenges,” she said.

‘Ready to get to work’

The experience started with a long day of travel. The group left at 8 a.m. and landed at 10 p.m. in Quito, followed by an hourlong drive to their hotel with a stop at McDonald’s for a snack.

“That first night, I could not sleep,” Stephenson said. “It was not from jet lag or uncertainty. I simply could not believe I had this opportunity, and I was eager to get started.”

Ihara said she felt a mix of excitement and nerves.

“I was ready to get to work, but also curious about the culture, the people and what the next several days would bring,” she recalled. “The scenery alone was stunning, and I could already tell it would be a memorable experience.”

The group collected as much data as possible on the town’s drinking water system.

They surveyed the existing water infrastructure, including the two main storage tanks in Tuntatacto as well as various tanks along the water route, conducted water quality and flow rate tests, and evaluated the conditions of current catchment systems.

“Many of the jobs that needed to be done were filled by those whose majors lined up perfectly: Emma-Lyn spearheaded the water quality/chemical testing, Ayana did the biological testing of the water, Livia did many of the water pressure tests at the villagers’ homes, and I was in charge of photos and documentation,” Loeffler said. “Although my role wasn’t super-specific to my major, I still used some of my engineering skills in helping with other jobs throughout the day and coordinating tasks.”

“It was hands-on, technical work,” said Montgomery. “I really enjoyed the opportunity to apply what I’ve been learning in a real-world context.”

As part of the assessment, the team climbed the slopes of the inactive Chimborazo volcano adjacent to the community to explore the feasibility of capturing runoff from a permanent snowfield at an elevation of approximately 14,000 feet.

The team, accompanied by about 40 community members, piled into the back of pickup trucks to start the journey. Following an hourlong drive through the countryside and up the mountain, they continued on foot, led by community members.

“We could not have done it without the community,” Stephenson stated. “At every step of the way, someone was there to help. If there was a big drop, they offered a hand. If the mud threatened to go over our boots, they laid down rocks. And through it all, they kept spirits high.”

“On the way back, the community stopped in a grassy area for lunch,” Loeffler recalled. “They laid out blankets and all pulled out food and dishes they had prepared and kept warm throughout the day. We all sat on the ground and ate around it like a potluck. It was such a cool experience, the view of the valley was amazing, the food was so good, and although there was a language barrier, the sense of fellowship was evident.”

“Even with the language barrier, everyone treated us like we were part of their family,” Montgomery agreed.

At each location, the Trine group collected samples and performed on- and off-site testing. Dr. Tyler said preliminary results from water quality and flow tests from the snowfield appeared promising and may help supplement the water supply during the dry season.

‘Unforgettable memories’

The team met with the community on their final day in Ecuador to sum up their findings and sign the project agreement.

The community held a celebration for the group, which involved playing soccer and serving lunch.

“The experience was absolutely amazing,” said Loeffler. “I had worn my airport clothes to this celebration because we were told that it would be all inside, likely some sort of dancing. Little did I know we would be in a dirt field, getting my shoes dirty and my clothes sweaty. But it was 1000% worth it.”

Loeffler said it was “incredible” to meet and interact with the people who will be helped by the project.

“They were so excited we were there, even for an assessment trip that had no immediate benefit for them,” he said.

“Even with a bit of a language barrier, we shared so many laughs and made unforgettable memories,” Stephenson added. “I will always remember their kindness, their joy, and the moments we shared.”

“I came to Ecuador wanting to help, but now the motivation is deeper. These are not just people I want to support. They are people I shared a part of my life with.”

“The connections we built made the work feel even more impactful,” Ihara agreed. “Seeing their gratitude and resilience firsthand gave deeper meaning to our work, and it reminded me why engineering can and should be used to improve lives.”

“Honestly, the elevation kicked my butt. But I’m proud of myself for pushing through the hikes and physically demanding days. It was all worth it, and I’m grateful I got to be a part of something so impactful.”

The team’s findings will guide the design of a sustainable improvement project to ensure Tuntatacto has a reliable, clean water supply year-round.

Over the next six months, the team will conduct an alternative analysis and finalize design plans. Once complete, they plan to return to oversee construction and provide technical support, empowering the community with a lasting, affordable solution.

“All in all, this was an incredible experience,” said Montgomery. “I’m truly grateful for the opportunity, and I’m excited to see what we’ll be able to accomplish moving forward.”

“This is a project I hope to see through to the end, and I am looking forward to the day we can implement our solutions for their water supply,” said Stephenson.

Engineers Without Borders USA is a nonprofit humanitarian organization with more than 200 chapters and 10,000 volunteers, and has completed more than 1,100 successful projects worldwide. Projects like this not only transform communities but also offer students invaluable real-world engineering experience and the opportunity to make a global impact.

To support the next phase of the project, the Trine University EWB Chapter will host a fundraising golf outing at Zollner Golf Course in Angola on Oct. 11, 2025. For more information, please contact Dr. Tyler at 260-665-4821 or tylert@trine.edu.

Learn more about Engineers Without Borders at ewb-usa.org.