I returned to Los Chiles on April 27 with many questions: Were the wells that were installed during my five-month 2014 stay still working? What activities and projects will be carried out in 2015? Is the local staff, which has taken on more responsibility in the well installations functioning effectively? How are they handing their increased responsibility?
My work will be primarily to help the ten work teams, which will begin arriving in early May, be productive during their week-long stays.
During my first few days the local team, (Omar Porras and the brothers Chente and Frank Baison) and I visited an elementary school that requested a well and a small community that has wanted a safe water supply for several years. We also visited the sites of projects that we had begun during the spring and summer of 2014 when I was here previously.
Below are a few pictures taken along the sometimes very bumpy roads.
Medio Queso well completed and in operation.
I participated in drilling this well. The community’s children had a “water day” that celebrated the well’s being installed. I will always remember the joy the children expressed as they played in the abundant water.
Medio Queso well installed in 2014, water tower added as there is no public power
Community wash area near the Medio Queso well
Punto Cortes – repairing a leaking fitting.
A fitting on the well’s pressure tank was cracked and leaking, probably due to the pressure tank being bumped. A protective fence will be installed to help prevent future occurrences. When the well started operating, four families were receiving water; now twice as many are benefitting.
Punto Cortes well had cracked fitting
Repair complete, a protective fence will prevent accidental bumping of well machinery
Isla Chica Elementary School – Locating the new well
Isla Chica has a 50-student elementary school. The shallow existing well needs replacing. The day we arrived the well had dried up.
Crew with IC school director
Chente starting the pits that will clean water discharged when drilling well.
La Chompipera Community near Cano Negro
A preliminary meeting was held with several families in the community. They have no running water, and most houses have dirt floors. This is an excellent site to keep work teams busy!
La Chompipera community has no running water
Recently built small house Chompipera
Recently built small house Chompipera
Starting to put together a plan for a water well
Bob with AVS in Costa Rica 