Tim Cleath speaks about Cal Poly Water Wells Collaboration

Posted by Shirley Hulin

Tim Cleath of the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, engineer & geologist spoke about the Water Wells built by three mechanical engineering teams at Cal Poly that will help Rotary and Lifewater continue their endeavors to bring clean drinking water to thousands of people and help save children lives.

The goal of the teams was to design and create a human powered drilling system for third world companies for different soil types. Over the course of the student's senior year it proved to be a difficult task an advisor from another state was brought in and in February of 2009 a new drill was designed and completed in May. The advantages of cable tool drilling are that the system is simple to build, operate and maintain. The system is applicable to many different types of soils and allows for drilling to be achieved below the water table. Tim Cleath hopes to share the design of the well at the RI Convention in Montreal 2010.