Calahausig Grande is a community consisting of about 300 houses spread out over many kilometers, up and down mountains. The community hired a government contracter to design and install a water system, a while back, however the system does not meet the communities needs. There are a surplus amount of water tanks, and in general the community is unsure of the layout of the systems itself. Therefore, LGWI and Codiense came to help.
Leaving our house at 7:00, we embarked on a bumping journey down dirt roads to this community. 2 hours later we arrived! Our mission for the day was to use several GPS units to mark points at every house, and tanking system so that later on, back at the office we could download all the points and precisely map out the water system. We divided into three teams and were off.
Back to bed we go...not for long though due to the bumpy dirt roads:
The local community members explaining the rough sketch of their water system:
Team #4-Chemistry Team:
Tip: get a job with a view!
This community's water was being supplied by two different springs. The first spring supplied 250 houses, and the second spring supplied only 50 houses. Both of these springs were a long and dangerous hike away from the community, therefore I tested the water at different sites that were supplied by the different springs.
Site 1-Tank:
Site 2-Pilla:
Calcium and Magnesium Testing:
KIDS! Most of the communities we visit have had few to no kids due to the popular migration from rural areas into the cities. It was refreshing to see all of the young, energetic happy faces!
For once we did not have cuy for lunch in the communities! The fish and I were both smiling!:
At the local school there was an english teacher. The kids were thrilled to talk in english with us and asked many questions!
The local kids took me around after I had finished the chemistry testing to the several points we still needed!
love those happy, pure smiles :)
