Students plug Cuba's water leaks

Four engineering students from Bristol University are preparing to fly to Havana in an attempt to improve the Cuban capital's water supplies.

The students belong to the university's Engineers Without Borders society which is working on a project to optimise and control urban Cuban water.

They aim to test their system in the area of the Polytechnic University of Havana, which serves 5,000 people.

The final project's aim is to set up an efficient automated water network.

Supply problems

The work is a follow-up to the university's 2005 Mondialogo engineering award-winning project, which researched best practice for the Cuban electrical and water supplies.

During their visit the students will meet with the Havana local government, including the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment, and the Vice-Director of Aguas de la Habana.

Robert Cottrell, project co-ordinator and president of EWB Bristol, said: "Nearly 70% of the water pumped into Havana is lost through leakages, often resulting in areas of the city's water supply being cut off for days.

"We hope to gain a deeper understanding of the environment and the culture where we are carrying out the project."