Marty Howell had two goals in becoming an engineer: He wanted to solve problems and he wanted to help meet real needs. In volunteering with WEFTA, he is doing both, earning the gratitude of many in the process.
As a WEFTA volunteer, Marty performs a wide range of services needed to bring safe water and sanitation to communities in developing nations. These include:
- Participating in site visits and inspections
- Reviewing and refining water models
- Working with local NGO engineers to walk and lay out water systems
- Creating cost estimates
- Reviewing and commenting on project designs and cost estimates
- Brainstorming with local representatives on how to implement viable operations and maintenance strategies
- Developing fundraising material for potential projects
A Timeline of WEFTA Service
Marty first began volunteering with WEFTA in 2016 when he had an opportunity to participate in a project in Honduras with volunteers Emily Parker and Andrew Robertson. Later, in 2019, he joined Ramon Lucero for work in Chiapas, Mexico. In 2024, Marty’s attention was turned to Ethiopia when he started reviewing project design details for sites in Ethiopia with fellow volunteer Scott McKitrick. He joined Scott in 2025 on a trip to the southwestern part of the country for a WEFTA collaboration with the Village Health Partnership. Marty continues to work with local partners in Ethiopia on designs and cost estimates for projects in villages that he and Scott visited.
Praises for WEFTA
Marty is touched by the gratitude of those who benefit from WEFTA’s services and notes the great value they place on WEFTA’s maintenance of long-term relationships with them. He believes that those long-term relationships demonstrate commitment and create deeper engagement. Marty anticipates continuing his work with WEFTA into the future.
“We’ve Got Water!”
Marty recounted a joy-inspiring moment in Honduras when, “As we brought water down a new waterline into a recently completed pressure breaker, or tanque rompecarga, a celebrating villager’s voice rang out across the valley for all to hear: “We’ve got water!”
A resident of Torrance, California, Marty’s “day job” is working remotely for Souder, Miller & Associates primarily on water and sewer projects for rural utilities in southern New Mexico. We appreciate Marty’s great efforts and are very pleased that he is helping WEFTA solve problems and meet some of the very real needs of this world!
