Ministerio Agua de Vida

The barrio of La Libertad (we would call it a neighborhood in the US) in the city of Chinandega contacted us when their existing well quit working.  It was about 35 years old and the metal screen apparently rusted out and collapsed, trapping their pump and leaving over 350 homes without water.  By the time they contacted us they had been without water for about 2 weeks and were getting desperate.  We agreed to assist with a new well.

La Libertad is a relatively poor barrio with many people living in poverty

When the well failed getting water became a daily chore for everyone

Since the well will supply a relatively large population, it was decided to drill a larger diameter well than we usually install.  The casing is 8" diameter (we usually install 4") and the hole was drilled 12 " diameter.  For a hole this large we had to use the cable tool percussion rig that Amigos for Christ brought from the US last year.  The drilling went surprisingly quick and we were able to install the well to 200 feet.

Eddie and Arturo operating the cable tool rig

Installing the 8" diameter well screen

Everything on this well was BIG, at least as far as we were concerned.  Thank goodness we had Arturo (the big guy in the hard hat) to help us drill! He has been drilling since he was 16 years old.  The rig is an old machine that Amigos purchased from McClure Well Drilling in Ellijay, Georgia last year.  It is old but has been well maintained and is perfect for the large diameter wells or wells in hard rock that we often encounter here.

Collecting water was never so much fun!!!

  We had a big celebration when we finished, and Ed got to preach on his favorite topic - the Samaritan woman at the well.

Linda with one of the leaders of the local "water committee" standing in front of the refurbished pump

As usual, everyone came running while we were pump testing the well.  We had already treated the well with a heavy dose of chlorine, so the water was drinkable (once the chlorine was pumped out).  There was a line of folks with all sorts of containers and transport methods waiting to get some of the "Living Water".  As always, kids will be kids, and a nice, cool dip in the water was too inviting to pass up.

We told the city fathers that when we finished drilling the well we would like to have a "celebration" thanking God for the well.  A local pastor from a church in the barrio agreed to bring his sound equipment and host the service and Ed got to offer a message on his favorite passage - the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4).  As you can see the neighborhood all got involved and they even strung balloons around the well site.  It was a wonderful time of singing, worship, and praising God.

Technical Details

Project date: August 21-23, 2009

Location:   Latitude -  N 12° 38.280'     Longitude - W  087° 07.759'

Elevation:     178 ft. above sea level

Total Cost:  $3,045

Drill rig used:  Drilled with Bucyrus Erie cable tool rig using an 12" percussion bit

Drilled Depth:  201 ft.

Well depth:   200 ft. below ground surface

Casing  type: 8 inch diameter Schedule 40 PVC bell & socket

Screen length &type:  60 feet of 8 inch diameter Schedule 40 PVC with 2 mm machine slots

Length of Gravel Pack:  90 ft.

Length & Type of Seal:  1 ft. of bentonite pellets

Static groundwater level:     47 ft. below top of casing

Dynamic groundwater level:     48 ft. below top of casing

Depth to base of pump:   100 ft. below top of casing

Pump description:    StaRite pump with Franklin motor - 5 hp 3 phase (provisional pump)

Flow rate:    61 gal/min