Last year, The Rotary Foundation approved a global grant for construction of a potable water system in the Rio Muchacho valley near Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador.  Our club is an international partner on this project, the second time we've worked with the club in Bahia to bring clean drinking water to a community.  Last week, we received an update from Bill Stumbaugh, the project lead in Ecuador.  Please see his message below and a link to some pictures are videos of the water diversion phase of the project taking shape.
 
Dear Rotarians,
 
I´m writing to provide an update to our sponsors about the progress of this Global Grant project, #2119179.
    
Last month, we began the project construction by successfully drilling a test water well bore 30 meters deep that produced an abundance of water.  However, the water stinks horribly and has a milky color.  Maybe sulfur or some other element...we don't know and opted to not bother to test it.
So, we changed to option B which is to capture the surface water near the point of the river's origin, upstream from 99% of the population.   The work to create the capture point is now in progress.   Some photos are attached.
 
A pipeline is being laid from the capture point following the river shoreline downstream to the place where the test well was drilled.  From there it will be pumped up to the ridge on the side of the valley where water tanks will be placed to store water as well as create the lift for gravity flow downstream to the distribution network and the homes.
 
The rainy season has begun.  It will likely mean that at some point, we´ll have to slow down system construction as the dirt roads and river crossings will become difficult and hazardous.  Also, the Omnicron is now here, and more restrictions are back in place.  Schools closed again, restaurants are high capacity, etc.  Hope you are all well.  Any questions you may have will be welcomed.
 
Bill
 
William F. Stumbaugh, Ph.D.
Past President
Rotary Club of Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador
Rotary Foundation Technical Cadre: Basic Education and Literacy
RPCV, Dominican Republic 1968-70