Providing Pure Drinking Water in Schools

Most of you know that one of the things we planned on doing here in Honduras was to drill wells. And that is still going to happen...soon. I have been waiting for a permit, which I now have, to drill a well in Oriente, one of the barrios in Siguatepeque. Our home church, NGF in Jacksonville, FL raised the money needed to drill this well and came to here to help. However, I was unable to get the permit from the City in time for their arrival. What did happen though, is that my friend Paul Hosier (BMDMI) stepped up and offered to let my team install one of his water purification systems which an elementary school in North Carolina had raised money for. In addition, NGF was also able to pay forward another system which Paul and I installed two weeks ago at a rural community school in El Pacayal.

Me showing a group of young guys at the school how to measure the chlorine content in the water.

Paul and I worked so well together on these projects that we have decide to form a loose affiliation between ourselves and Dave Bettany (Water Ambassadors Canada) which we call Pure Water for Honduras. All three of us are working together, pooling time, resources and knowledge to bring purified drinking water to schools. Besides the actual water, we will also be returning to the schools to teach classes on health, sanitation, healthy relationships, etc.

After installing the system in El Pacayal, the school administrator, Lesly Garcia, planned an entire ceremony to thank us and several other members of the community who had helped supply building materials for the building where the system is located. It was really a beautiful morning and the event with several skits put on for us by the teachers and students was well done. Lunch was provided and a ribbon cutting ceremony followed by the lifting of glasses filled with purified water.

Me, cutting the ribbon, Paul Hosier (right) Lenin (left)

Boys doing a skit

A toast to clean water

A young school girl filling her Coke bottle with pure water.

Another skit performed by the students at El Pacayal Elementary



Ben, talking with one of the schoolboys as they fill a bottle with pure drinking water.

The water purification system we are currently using was designed by Water Step, and uses table salt to produce chlorine which is circulated through two holding tanks. The system is fairly inexpensive to purchase and install, but does require continued oversight as the water in the holding tanks needs to be re purified each time the tanks are refilled. Because of this, I am looking into other types of purification systems which require less maintenance. However, we have been able to reduce the cost of each system by $1,100 USD by sharing the same filtration unit and battery with each system we install. Most organizations place a complete unit in each location and then show someone how to use it and walk away trusting that the unit will be properly used, but because we want to continue to be involved in the process, personally insuring that the system is being used and used properly, building relationships with the community and doing follow up training and education, we are able to use one filtration unit and battery in many locations. Not only are we assured of correct usage, but we also feel that this is a much better use of the funds donated towards this project.

 

Filtration units from Water Step

Holding tanks, the shelf in the center is to hold the filtration unit



Another very interesting thing that has come out of the delay in the permitting process is that I have been able to spend a lot of time with the Mayor of Siguatepeque. As he and I have driven around the city looking at and discussing water problems and solutions we have been able to talk about some of the other problems which face Sigaut. Through these discussions, he and I will be working on several other water and community projects together. Because I do not represent any particular organization, this has given me the freedom to work uninhibited with the City and also to network with other organizations who will able to add value to things we hope to see accomplished.



Myself (left) the Mayor (center) and Tim Hagler (right) discussing an upcoming event we are planning.

If anyone would like to donate towards one of these water purification systems, we would very much appreciate it. For $1000 USD ( a bit more if we need to build a shed) you can supply a continued source of pure water to a school and a small community. We cannot do this with out your financial support and there are many schoolchildren in this area who would benefit greatly by having pure drinking water, not only to drink while at school, but to take home to their families.

Barbe and I would love to have you as a church, or as a family, raise the funds to purchase and install one of these systems and then come and help us do it. I promise you that it will be one of the most memorable things you will ever do, especially as a family. If you are interested in obtaining further information on this project you can email me at wolfeent@copper.net