Pestel's Water

We turn our faucets on and we get water.  

In Ecuador you get water but you wouldn't want to drink it!  You have to buy bottled water to drink.

Here I can wash my car with purified water.  I have well water that first goes through a filter.  I can drink the same water that I use to wash my car.

In Pestel getting water can be a very real challenge.  There are no streams or rivers, ponds or lakes.  Water is collected in big (or small) concrete/stone cisterns (either from roof runoff or just open to the air), barrels or other containers.  

The water is not 'clean' in the sense that you or I would want to drink it.  It can become contaminated quickly.  Consider what kinds of things can fall or land into an open-air cistern.

And when there is a drought and your cistern dries up, you must go looking for water because you cannot live without water.  You cannot call the plumber or run to the 'store' to buy bottled water.  You have to hike the mountains to find water from someone who still has water.  And then you'll likely have to pay for it.

On our recent trip we had the joy of seeing several of the newly installed Chateau D'Eau's:

These were installed just a couple of days prior to our visit, so the timing was excellent!
The villagers were quite thrilled for a number of reasons. First, these worked within 24 hours of installation because it had rained. Second, these were quick to install (compared with a traditional stone cistern which could take months, depending on supplies, etc etc). Third, these can be installed in very hard to reach places where hauling concrete bags, for example, would be difficult.

Fourth, they provide clean water because nothing falls into them. They are constructed with a filter at the top where the water enters. So we don't have to worry about a rodent falling in, for example, as happened to another cistern that I heard about.

OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE:

We are very pleased with the feedback we've received on the Chateau D'Eaus.  The cost is $1000 for the purchase of the materials and for the installation (a trained team from the area installs them, which also provides jobs!).

   

Let me know if you're interested in helping with this! It's a great way to give, and it's a life-sustaining gift for entire families.

Ben

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