We completed the installation of the new solar power and  PV well pump system in December of 2010. The system uses six of the solar panels you see in the picture below.  (The other six are used by the community center.)  The panels are mounted on top of the community center.  The peak DC power of the 6 panels is 1200 watts. The next picture is a rear view of the installation.  The panels are mounted on a horizontal adjustable rack.  This allows the panel angle to be adjusted for summer, fall and spring and winter settings to increase the power output of the system.

The pump is a Lorentz PS1800 Centrifugal Pumping System.  The installation of the pump is shown below.  

 The new PV system has been in operation since the second week of December 2010.  The system has an average pumping capacity of 6000 gallons per day.  The maximum pumping capacity on a summer day is around 10000 gallons per day.  Since the new system came on line we have not had to use a backup generator to run the system.  

Through the spring and summer of 2011 we have been installing additional pipe to increase the distribution of the water in the colonia.  To date we have installed about 1600 meters of pipe.  The latest installment was over the Memorial Day weekend.  During this trip we started the pipe run to the east and connected the elevated tank in La Calichera.  With this connection we have two elevated 2500 gallon tanks on the system to store water and provide pressure for the system.   See pictures below of this trip.

We are currently serving 100 families that are on the water line and delivering water with the truck to another 80 families.  We are delivering an average of 200 gallons per family per week for a weekly rate of almost 40000 gallons a week this summer.   The delivery of the water with the truck is very time consuming so we are anxious to complete the pipeline. 

 The original plan for expansion of  the water distribution system was budgeted at $35,000 which included two towers, the high efficiency well pump and solar power and 4000 meters of pipe installed.

  To date we have raised $25000 of the $35000. This includes designated giving from the ROHI network of $12000 and $3000 from trips.  This summer Bruce and Paula Hepburn raised $10000 to pay for the two elevated tanks from the churches that support them in Chicago. This leaves us $10000 to finish laying the reamaining 2400 meters of pipe. This would be a $100 donation per family to get the remaining 100 families on the water line.  If you would like to sponsor a family to get fresh water or donate pipe use the Catalog link below to give. 

The plan for the rest of this year is to add the two additional elevated tanks and the additional 2400 meters of pipe, extending the pipeline from the entrance of the colonia to the gates on the east side of the international bridge.  

We have started to receive support and will be taking a trip down over the Labor day weekend to continue the pipe installation.  If you are interested going please look at the trip section of the catalog

Catalog