FIRST WATER PROJECT IN MORON
After good nights rest the group was up and enjoying breakfast in the hotel dining room at 8AM. We had a buffet breakfast, eggs, coffee, fruit, yogurt, breads and some traditional choices including rice, beans, chorizo and greens. Rick handed out team shirts CDWT had made up for the trip and then everyone helped bring the bags downstairs to the van. Juan our van driver spent the night in the same hotel as the group and he brought the van around to the front door. We loaded up among a few rain drops and headed out to Moron (More-Own), about a 30 minute drive from the hotel. When we arrived we brought all the bags in to make sure we had all the tools and spare parts handy. The team split up into teams unpacking and organizing the supplies, checking on the installation site on the wall inside the front door and assembling a platform and ladder to climb up on the roof. Rick and John went on the roof helping the plumbers cut into the existing water line installing a tee and threading new pipe to connect and bring the water down to the water filter system. The supplies were laid out organized like a hardware store. Then the team started glueing up the PVC pipe and drilling into the concrete wall.
The installation went smooth. There were a few design changes to make sure the water faucet would be in the center of the wall outside the door and aligned with the new water supply line. The first time it was turned on there were a few tiny leaks so the team took it down, re-applied some teflon tape and pvc pipe dope. After a few adjustments there were no more leaks. Fabiola lead a team testing the water and explaining how to use the water test kit. Near noon a team went to get sandwiches and sodas for the group. It took most of the day until all the connections were checked and the system was installed. Everyone participated and we were excited to see the job completed. When the time came we opened the water line, watched the UV lamp power up. the timer read 365 days and it was ready. We all stepped outside, opened the faucet and took the first drink of potable water. The community had heard about our work and we were told the news was spreading.
Throughout the installation we had been working with two plumbers who came to learn and helped us install the system. After the installation was completed the plumber who came from Jiqui loaded a 3rd system into the trunk of his car to take back and install in the Episcopal church in Jiqui. Jiqui was 3 hours to the West and was too far for us to visit and complete the installation. The plumber promised to send us photos when the installation was completed. We packed up our supplies, exchanged hugs and said goodbye to the people who had come to help us in Moron. We went back to the church in Ciego de Avila and dropped off our bags for the next day. We returned to the Ramon Restaurant and then went back to our hotel for the night. Some people turned in for the night and a few others went downstairs to the lobby for a few drinks as they went over the events of the day. System #1 completed and System #3 was on its way to Jiqui to be installed!