12 November 2008

To: Bill Kramer
Program Manager
International Rural Water Association

From: Lynn Roberts
Agua Para La Salud
Guatemala

GENERAL COUNTRY ACTIVITY  OCTOBER

The month of October  saw the closing of a number of projects anticipating the end of the year. Most of the Peace Corps Healthy Schools projects were closing as a result of the ending of the school year. The school year end the middle of October so that the children can assist in the harvest of crops.  Many of these projects were funded by Global Water and assisted by Alberto Xoch the Circuit Rider from Slolola.

Water use facility in Parracana school before construction	Parracana after construction with 12 chorros (two sides) and protective cover
Lavamano in the Pakawex school

Projects were completed with the Peace Corps were in the schools Pakawex, Xesajcap, Campur, Coban, Momostenango, and Parracana during Oct.

The Fontenero 2008 project funded by Water For People in Nebaj to improve sanitary conditions; construct hand washing stations; and make repairs to water systems came to a close. During the project we constructed two septic tanks and used this to train the masons in Agua Para La Salud in this design.

Digging the pit for septic tank in La Laguna Sal Bal school	Finished walls and placement of overflow tubing La Laguna Sal Bal school
Septic tank concrete cover La Laguna Sal Bal	Finished septic tank in the Kambalam school
New latrines and repaired hand washing station in the Vitostix school	Diego Ramirez ,Circuit Rider in Nebaj , giving classes in Tzijulche school on water shed protection
Repaired Hand Washing Station at Tzijulche	New Latrine complex at Tzijulche

The masons in Nebaj began another project in the village of Pulay to augment their water supply. The volunteer engineers from England and Germany arrived to assist with designs for the remainder of this year and prepare projects for next year.

Preparing spring site for construction of spring box	Placing rocks in the spring filtration gallery
Antonio Cavinal, APS mason and builder of Pulay spring box	Circuit Rider Diego and Lynn explaining the Pulay water project to the village
Installing water line from spring to the village of Pulay

I spoke with the Wisconsin Water For the World group and the Florida Rotary Clubs and they are now prepared to work in the village of Sacbolchol in the area where Circuit Rider Alberto lives. They will be sending funds in early Dec. to begin preparatory work with Alberto on the water system in anticipation of their arrival in March 2009. The project will consist of capturing six small springs; a 2km conduction line to a 10 cubic meter ferro cement collection tank;construction of a control cabin at this site and installation of power lines and a 2 hp pump; installation of a pump line from previous tank to another 10 cubic meter ferro cement tank on a hill; and finally a distribution system from this last tank to 40 houses.

- End of Report -