Dominican Water Project
Following is an update from Tommy Gower on our Dominican Water Project:
On August 6th, Rob Overly and I [Tommy] went to the Dominican Republic to check on our project there. We carried with us 600 rubber washers, used in making and refurbishing the water filters, and a large roll of filter media, used to strain the activated carbon out of the water as it is being purified.
The primary purpose of our trip was to get them started manufacturing their own charcoal filters rather than having to buy them here and ship them down there. This results in a cost savings, especially the shipping cost and the import duties. We had previously purchased and shipped a container of bulk activated charcoal down to Porta Plata. The folks at the Brugal Rum Factory there had graciously agreed to accept the charcoal and store it at their warehouse until we could come down and get it. Upon arriving we met with Wilye, Pastor Cancu’s son-in-law, who heads up our water filter project, and proceeded to Brugal’s warehouse to get our charcoal. On the way back, we stopped at a local hardware store and purchased some 1 1/2″ PVC pipe to make the case for the filters. After unloading our charcoal at our trade school, (there was a full pickup truck load of it), we proceeded to instruct Wilye on how to make the filters. We used three of the pieces of equipment that we had previously purchased for the wood working shop for the school to make the filters. I made the first filter in order to show Wilye how it was done and he made the next one. I think Rob brought back the first filter with us to show the club.
The wood working shop is being used and they have made chairs and tables for the school and some other things. Our next big step is figuring out how that they can make their own string filters. Once that is accomplished, they should be able to purchase, fabricate, and service all of the filters from things bought “in country”, not only reducing the cost of the filters to where they will be more affordable, but also helping the local economy.
Tommy
