Exciting Report on our Well Water in Jubilee
- At November 15, 2011
- By admin
- In News and Updates
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Some gentleman from a water project here in Haiti came out to visit and take water samples from the well we dug in Jubilee that serves the school and community. Amazing results (read a few of their comments below)!
This is a very fortuitous circumstance but it may be a fragile gift if over pumped or tapped without protections. The artesian nature is very encouraging in that there is a constant positive pressure outward from the aquifer that will flush periodic saltwater intrusions. The report goes on to conclude that it would be a good idea to get someone in to do an in depth study of the aquifer to determine how strong it is and if we can use it to put in more wells near the new houses . This may be a study that could get funding from an international aid entity. There is a possibility that this aquifer has a large capacity of flow and if that is the case, it could transform Jubilee. I am not sure of the interest level but given the dire conditions of the residents, this could be something people get excited about. I was very impressed with growing crops on that plain within earshot of the ocean.
We are thrilled with this report !!! “There is river whose streams make glad the city of our God” (psalm 46). Chris Greene is leading a team of young men, our present interns, to begin using this water to reclaim soil and enable things to grow here. We are so thankful that God has brought these guys here for such a time as this. We are presently in need of purchasing a gasoline powered pump for the other wells we dug with the farmers in the area. They grow huge gardens now during the rainy season, but they long to grow year round. Last year through generous donations, we were able to help them put in two wells , now they need a pump to move the water out for irrigation. We can buy these pumps here, in Port for $ 400 each.
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The water quality, results are pretty good – which is not expected given the location of being out on the salt flats of Gonaives. pH – 7.8 su (meter), 8.7 su (test strips) – The water is a little basic (higher pH) but not bad – A high pH beyond what you have causes a bitter taste, scale on water pipes and a depression of the effectiveness of the disinfection of chlorine.
Hardness – 285 ppm (test strip) – This would classify as very hard (>180ppm). Hard water is essentially an indicator of high concentrations of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions but there are no recognized heath issues. It’s more a matter of taste and problems when using it as process water. Conductivity – 780 us/cm . This is in the category of fresh water and is somewhat elevated but well within the “good quality” range.
TDS – 516 mg/l (or ppm) (computed from conductivity and temperature). Same as above and well below the WHO standards for drinking water of 1,000 mg/l. Most wells within a km of the ocean in Haiti have TDS well in excess of 3,000. The ocean has a TDS of 49,000 mg/l Nitrates – 3-5 ppm (test strips). The WHO standard for children and pregnant women is 10 ppm. Your water is well within that standard.
Presence/absence test for bacteria – Negative. The field test for bacteria should not be relied on as a definitive test but it does show water that is likely not contaminated with human and animal waste. The explanation for the good water is that there is a confined aquifer at 120’ which gets its recharge inland and is protected from the overlying brackish aquifer by a natural clay aquitard.
