Dear family, friends, and donors
One week into the well drilling project and we appear to have finally achieved access to sustainable water.
Monday and Tuesday started off well prior to the drill bit breaking off at 70 meters below ground level. Despite a part shipped from Nairobi which was supposed to be able to pull out the broken part, we were unable to grab hold of it and had to abandon the site, thereby losing our two day efforts.
By Wednesday we had started drilling at new site 1 meter from the original, now abandoned site. This one went a little better and by Thursday we had drilled into strata supplying water. We continued drilling down to a depth of 100 meters (more than the length of a football field). At this point we commenced installation of the permanent well casing, screen, and top casing.
Friday we filled the gap between the outer casing and the above mentioned components with fine gravel, added a special clay called bentonite, and had to wait until the next day for things to stabilize.
Saturday was a very memorable day in that the next phase consisted of operating an electric pump for 24 hours to determine how much water the well was capable of producing. It was incredible, within literally minutes of the pump starting and water starting to flow, people started coming from all over to see the water flowing. The rapid spreading of the word proved, unquestionably, that the "jungle telegraph" is alive and functioning in Kenya.
The test ended this afternoon in the early afternoon. As a treat, we decided to "visit" another country and drove 15 miles to the border with Tanzania and walked across the border into the town across the border.
The adrenalin which has charged through us during the first week is diminishing and we are starting to feel it (both young and less young). As a result, we are trying to get done with dinner earlier and to bed earlier. Fatigue is not yet any concern for us as the drilling crew are the ones doing all the work. We are supervising, politicking the village that the is up to the future is up to their future efforts, attempting to learn some of the local Luo language, visit homes and schools, and entertaining the thundering herd of children who seem to always be surrounding us.
Well, off to a shower and to bed. Even following thunderstorms, it always seems to be hot and dusty.
Best to all from Kenya.
George
No comments:
Post a Comment