Overview
For my Masters of Art in Design for Social Impact, I chose to research how sustainable, nature-inspired design could be used as a problem solving technique to increase access to water for low-income residents of water-stressed cities using Mexico City as a reference. I extended the conclusions from my thesis to begin user interviews with residents of the city to develop a potential solution.
The proposed solution, Rain Loop, helps to supplement water supply for homes disconnected from a central water grid. It is a hybrid system of rainwater capturing and grey-water recycling which prolongs the supply of rainwater throughout both wet and dry seasons.
My Role
Sole UX Research, Proof of Concept & Prototype Design, Business & Funding Model, Theory of Change Analysis
Duration
8 month pedagogical project for graduate thesis and capstone project.
Tools
Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects
My Design Process
Research
Problem Statement
Target User Analysis
Competitor Analysis
Ideation
Competitor Analysis
Proof of Concept
Testing
User Surveys
Feasibility Testing - Engineer Interviews
Outcome
Final Proof of Concept
Funding Structure & Impact
Research
For my graduate thesis, I researched the efficacy of nature-inspired solutions towards improving water infrastructure and management in major cities. The main takeaway from my research was the need for cyclical systems that recycle wastewater as well as collected rainwater to diversify water supply just as seen in the natural environment. Mexico City was explored as an example of a rapidly urbanizing megacity and was used as the location for the following design research.
Problem Statement
There are water shortages in many areas of Mexico City and increasing land subsistence (sinking) due to over-depletion of groundwater wells. For low-income residents living in the periphery areas of the city, often in irregular housing, the impact of flooding and water shortages are evident. This leads to a reliance on government allocated water delivery trucks or other pricey private water services and plastic bottled water consumption. Rainwater collection systems, usually common in rural areas, have also become increasingly common in low-income areas of the city to supplement domestic water needs.
How do we provide sustainable water source for underserved individuals in water stressed neighbourhoods of Mexico City?
Target User Analysis
I surveyed and interviewed residents from 4 different districts of Mexico City to better understand how they receive water for daily user journey and their pain points. I also interviewed two prominent researchers who are exploring the socio-environmental impact and origins of water management and allocation in the city. I identified the following constraints and common pain points for residents who report not having easy access to as much water as they need:
Contaminated water requires additional treatment or reliance on bottled water
Residents disconnected from the water grid must rely on water delivery trucks
Residents relying on water trucks spend up to 30% of their income on water
Most residents experience lack of trust or awareness of alternative water sources
User Persona & Journey
As a result of the interviews and surveys with residents impacted by water shortages, I created a target user profile.
According to the most common responses from interviews, I mapped the journey of this target user to receive water for daily use prior to any intervention to identify the pain points and opportunities for intervention.
Competitor Analysis: Overview
After collecting insights from user surveys and interviews as well as researches, I compared existing solutions available for providing a sustainable source of water in water scarce regions as well as solutions for preserving limited water supply. Most residents noted that the need to purify water, as well as cost and time required for water delivery services in Mexico City were the biggest pain points. The three solutions below address one or two of these pain points and so were compared as I gathered information for my proposed solution.
Comparison of the positives and negatives in existing home water shortage solutions. This comparison demonstrated opportunities for new solutions.
Ideation
Competitor Analysis: Lessons From Competitors
For my initially proposed solution, I merged the benefits of Isla Urbana’s rainwater capturing system with Hydraloop’s model for a total home water recycling system. My proposed solution adapts the water recycling system to use captured rainwater and to fit irregular settlements which may lack a regulated piping structure. The inclusion of a circular water recycling system allows the rainwater captured to be used throughout the year even during the dry season. Residents who rely on rainwater without any reusing strategies can only rely on this method for 6 to 8 months of the year. However, my proposed solution for a hybrid rainwater and greywater system would overcome this limitation.
Insights from Isla Urbana
Insights
At least two water tanks are required for the treatment process. An underground cistern can be used when possible to reduce land space.
A multi-step process involving physical filtration and chemical treatment is sufficient for cleaning rainwater in Mexico City.
Constraints
While the system is can provide enough water to be used throughout the rainy seasons, it may not provide enough water for daily use throughout dry season unless residents use the water sparingly.
Insights from Hydraloop
Insights
Using a series of water pumps, greywater from multiple sources throughout the home can be purified for re-use.
An effective greywater purification system can be compact and employed in a variety of homes.
Constraints
This system requires sufficient space in homes and proper infrastructure to support the piping system needed.
Proof of Concept
After the research phase and insights collected from user interviews, I used the identified user profiles and pain points to propose a potential solution. The solution considers the positives and negatives of some existing water purification and off-grid water sourcing systems. Particularly, it includes the greywater recycling process present in solutions such as Shower Loop, and the rainwater capturing process used by Isla Urbana and similar companies in Mexico City. By combining both these processes, the result is a circular system for capturing and treating rainwater for repeated usage. It provides residents who would be otherwise disconnected from the water grid an alternative and sustainable water source, so that they do not need to spend countless hours waiting for water delivery of investing up to 40% of their weekly salary on expensive private water services.
Usability Testing
User Surveys & Interviews
After the initial proof of context, I did a second round of surveys and interviews with residents of Mexico City. This round included individuals that took part in the first round as well as a new group of residents from the districts Tlalpan and Iztapalapa as outlined in the target user profile. This testing process introduced the solution concept, demonstrating how they would interact with it in their homes in order to get their impression and feedback. I presented the cost range as well as how it would need to be installed, maintained, and the purpose of the system.
Feasibility Testing
Engineer Interviews
I continued to test my concept with engineers and designers who have developed sustainable water systems. This included engineers of BOSAQ who create remote, solar-powered greywater treating systems, and engineers of a shower that conserves water through greywater re-use. I also followed up with designers of an existing rainwater capturing installation service in Mexico City, Isla Urbana, in order to determine the feasibility of my proposed solution.
Testing Conclusions
Improving the Proof of Concept
First proof of concept created after first round of user interviews. Following user surveys and feasibility testing interviews with engineers, this proof of concept was updated to improve its function as demonstrated in the following image.
The most notable changes in the updated proof of concept after surveys and interviews is highlighted in yellow.
The Proof of Concept was improved with three tanks for water storage according to the quality of the water. The underground cistern stores filtered but un-treated rainwater, while a rooftop tank stores treated rainwater, and a compact tank inside the home stores treated greywater. The result is based heavily on Isla Urbana’s process for capturing, treating, and storing rainwater. My work on the project was completed after this stage. My proposed funding structure and proposed plan for partnership with local rainwater capturing organizations such as Isla Urbana was the conclusion of my research, user testing, and concept exploration. This funding structure and the potential impact of this proposed solution concept will be summarized in the next section.
Outcome
Final Proof of Concept
After research, ideation, and feasibility testing, my work in this project was concluded at this phase. I summarized the findings from my theoretical and user research as a proposed solution with the visuals below. I supported my proposed solution with a funding structure that could support users’ concerns as well as an outline of the solution’s potential impact. This would be proposed to organizations involved in rainwater capturing to enhance their services.
Proposed Funding Structure
I proposed a funding structure to cover installation costs that did not rely solely on the residents as the solution targeted low-income residents in particular. The installation and maintenance would be provided on a sliding scale according to income and subsidized partially by public grants and private donations. Thus, Rain Loop would implement a hybrid charity and social enterprise structure.
My proposed solution would be pitched to NGOs already focused on water or rainwater harvesting to as a solution to improve the longevity of their service. It provides a hands-off solution for residents relying on rainwater to conserve water and continue to use it even throughout dry seasons.
The Potential Impact
Rain Loop decreases vulnerability of low-income residents, particularly those in irregular housing, by reducing reliance on inconsistent water truck deliveries or overpriced water services. It even reduces vulnerability to natural disasters such as earthquakes which would interfere with on-land water delivery as well as water grid connections.
It empowers individuals through knowledge of where their water is coming from and how the system works to conserve it. It also requires training people in the community to change filters, install, and maintain these systems, thus opening new opportunities in the local economy.
It is a long-term poverty alleviation strategy by getting rid of the frequent need to take time from work or other responsibilities to wait for and collect water. It also reduces the associated costs which were even up to 30% of some residents’ monthly salaries.
