The water project was started in Covington, VA. Gaby, along with Leo Mulcahy (Sacred Heart Catholic Church), brought up the need for running water to the Saint Rose of Lima school in Jaksonville. Currently, the students carry water with them in the morning each day, enough for preparing their lunch and other needs. The kids need a water supply to teach them hygiene, prepare lunch, and to create a garden which will teach them the basics of agriculture.
Water is supplied by a thousand foot run of tubing, buried along the roadway from the well to the school. Here it will be stored in a 1,300 gallon cistern behind the school into the hillside. From the cistern, a distribution system supplies water to the administrator office and bathroom, a handwashing station, the cafeteria, and the school garden. Powering this is 640 watts of solar panels and a Grundfos 1/2 hp pump. To make this system simple and cheaper, no batteries are used and the pump will only operate while there is sunshine...not a problem in Haiti.
Timeline of events so far:
May 2007: Water project formulated in Covington at the Jackson River with Leo and Gaby
December 2007: Leo Mulcahy and Steve Metzler visit Haiti to assess the water project
March 2008: VT students take a GPS survey of key locations (cistern, future site of well, etc).
January 5, 2009: Haiti Outreach arrives and starts drilling. The well is located about 60 feet from the Missionary House. This well will supply water to the school, Mission house, as well as a community garden.
January 13, 2009: Haiti Outreach completes the well at a price of $3,600.
January 16, 2009: GPS survey of well:
UTM Northing: 2143402
UTM Easting 18Q0799596
elevation: 1168 feet
March 2009: VT students help to clear a site for the cistern behind the school.
May 16 2009: 2nd roof is poured on the mission house, allowing a place to install the solar panels.
Week of May 18, 2009: We scramble and start doing the heavy work for the water project during the two weeks before Leo and Steve's arrival. We hold several work 'parties' to dig the pipeline canal along the road. About 10 neighborhood kids show up each night from 8pm to midnight, armed only with pickaxes, shovels, and flashlights. We spend about 5 nights digging the 1100 feet of pipeline, sending each kid home with a plate of rice.
Week of May 25, 2009: The cistern is also constructed the fourth week of May. Rock was dug up on a nearby mountain and hauled by oxcart to the school. Two block masons lay the foundation and walls for the cistern. The cistern roof is poured the 30th of May. The inside dimensions of this measure 6 feet in diameter and 6 feet high, holding around 1300 gallons of water.
Week of June 1, 2009: Steve and Leo arrive on the 1st of June. We spend two days finishing up loose ends of pipeline and putting finishing touches on the handwash stations. Steve shows his mastery of PVC plumbing by installing several taps inside and outside the school kitchen. The cooks also now have a countertop and a stainless steel sink to prepare meals.
Technicians from Solar Energy Products (SEP) arrive June 3rd and we install the new Grundfos pump. Eight 80 watt solar panels are installed on the roof. No batteries are used, saving a lot of money. Water is pumped only when there is sunlight and stored in the cistern for use 24/7.
Water finally flows to the school Thursday June 4th. Although we need some refinements with one of the handwash stations, the water project is a success! The kids enjoy having ample water to drink, wash their hands, and the cooks no longer have to haul water from the well to cook with each day. The next day we held a dedication ceremony in the auditorium with the theme being 'Dlo se la vi' or 'Water is life'.
Setting up the drilling rig.
Drilling by the Mission House.
Well is finished January 13th, 2009. It is concreted into place and capped.
See how much we need water!
Laying the final stretch of pipeline leading up to the mission house well. This 1100' of pipeline was dug and laid by the neighborhood kids during work parties at night.
Installing the new Grundfos pump 145' feet down.
This is the 1300 gallon cistern behind the school.
Gaby proudly marking the date the cistern is complete!
Kids finally drinking water from the handwash station! This one outside of the bathroom can support up to five kids.
Kids marvel at holes in the pvc pipe that spring water!
The grand handwash/drinking station in front of the cafeteria. Kids are instructed to wash their hands before eating and to drink enough water all day.