Haiti — A Lack of Regulations Leading to Devastating Effects of a Nation’s Groundwater System: NGWA International Brown Bag Series

Presented on Thursday, May 26, 2016

Learn about groundwater challenges facing Haiti during this half-hour presentation.

Haiti is a poor Caribbean nation that has been dealing with political and economic instability for the most part of its existence. At least 90 percent of its potable water supply is collected from springs and wells, making groundwater the country’s most important resource. However, Haiti’s governmental institutions have failed to implement policies and regulations regarding this resource, leaving it exposed to major contamination and possible depletion in certain areas.

This presentation will discuss three challenges that Haiti is confronting due to the lack of monitoring:

•Impact on groundwater quality due to the lack of standards and specifications for well drilling

•Effect of the Plaine du Cul de Sac Aquifer overexploitation

•Negative impact of NGOs’ sponsored wells throughout Haiti and how to remediate it.


Please note: the audio is low on one part of the presentation.

Speaker:
Michel Jean-Baptiste
Foratech Environnement S.A., Haiti
Michel Jean-Baptiste worked four years as an engineer for Environmental Resources Management, where he gained significant experience in environmental protection studies and the supervision of rehabilitation works in New York and surrounding areas. In 2009, Jean-Baptiste relocated to Haiti to join the family well drilling company as the technical director and has since supervised various drilling and pumping test projects throughout the country commissioned by the government, NGOs, and the private sector. During the past seven years, he’s acquired a great knowledge of the groundwater resources of Haiti and has observed various issues confronted by this sector. Jean-Baptiste holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in construction management from New York University’s Polytechnic Institute.

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