 |
|
News
|
| JWAV | Village | Families | Partners | Testimonials | Service Trips |
| Contacts | Site Map | Agros |
Water Project - Phase IThe most immediate efforts include construction of a year-round water system tapping the seasonal stream and natural spring nearby. Click here to see map of water system.
In order for the water to make it down to the village and be efficiently collected and distributed, it must first be collected in sufficient volume at its source so that natural gravity can transport it down to the village. The community is thus constructing a concrete and stone cistern around the spring to protect and to allow the water to build to the necessary volume to effeciently transport it down to the village. The cistern will be covered to protect from debris and the surrounding elements. The spring is in a narrow and steep ravine deep up in the hills. There is no way to use machinery or vehicles to carry material up into the hills. The work on this portion of the system is back-breaking as the heavy materials must be carried by foot, and the work is must be done in a very difficult and awkward place.
Construction The construction is being peformed primarily by the 17 village men, young and old. Professional foreman and engineers are leading and guiding the effort to ensure its integrity and successful completion. More importantly they are educating the community so that they can peform future constructure and repairs on their own. Most of the material comes from the surrounding environment - stone, sand, water. However, PVC, steel rebar, lime, cement, and quality wood planks for forming, must be brought in and are expensive. The cost of the project is $22,000. This includes the above materials, and the professional hours for engineering, supervision, assistance and education, make up for the bulk of the cost. It also includes a small amount of substitute pay for the 17 village men who must stop working in the surrounding ranches in order to do the construction. Without this income, they cannot feed their families and cover their basic daily costs of living. They receive pay for 8 hours of work, but have in fact been working from the break of dawn late into the evenings.
Progress Work began in early December, starting with the construction of the cistern around the spring source in he hills. The work to dig and expand the area around the spring as water is was still flowing with very difficult.
Mateial could only be trucked in as far as the village, and must be carried by hand up to the spring source.
Construction of the main water storage tank commences at the top of the village.
The main storage tank progresses. The structure is very well constructed. It is approaching half its planned height.
Phase I construction was completed ahead of schedule by almost one month, on February 7, 2006, and well under budget. That week the new storage tank was filled for the first time.
It took only 72 hours to completely fill the 40,000 gallon tank. For the first time in 8 years, the women of San Pedrito no longer had to hike thousand of meters to haul water. There are a few remaining items pieces to complete the project including a permanent or durable cover/ceiling for the main storage tank above.
The men of San Pedrito have commenced Phase II & III ahead of schedule with the remaining funds. and using leftover lime, cement and forms to get a head start on other works not yet funded. |
Their is a natural spring up in the hills above the family. While it can provide the volume of water needed by the village during the dry months, it is in a precarious location and not protected. The seasonal stream runs alongside it can destroy it under storm conditions. The surrounding natural debris can pollute it. 
Water will be transported by 3" PVC running alonside the seasonal stream down the hill, and up to the head of the village just behind Jose Ruiz' home, the highest point in the village. There is will be collected 
