We've finally started working on site with the communities on the rainwater harvesting systems, it's going well so far and we hope to get all of the work done on time!
Firstly we took a trip to a neighboring city called Celaya to buy extra materials that weren't available in San Miguel.
After this we started our meetings to work on site with the communities and Nati, a local plumber/electrician. Here's a few pictures from Rancho Nuevo.
In Atotonilco, we had a bit more work to do/organise, burying the cistern, repairing the roof-pipes, trimming the trees and cleaning the roof, re-routing the pipes, and the usual cleaning/repairing of filters and cisterns. We're waiting on a second cistern to be delivered as this site has double the amount of users (160 school children/teachers) and half the amount of water capacity that they should have.
In Agustin Gonzalez there are two underground cisterns of 60,000L that needed clearing out of contaminated water, dead animals and litter
This is one of the avantis, one of the filtering stages that needs cleaning
Between sites the route is always through beautiful rural countryside and is a treat to see.
In Boca de la Cañada there was the normal works as well as some re-plumbing, replacement of pump motors and re-routing of cistern water outlets
These are silver ionisers that purify the water via an electric current after the pre-filters. To save money they have been constructed ourselves in UCL and on site in Mexico using Monedas de plata/mexican coins of 99.9% pure silver that Gaby kindly donated to the project, they were soldered to the screws in the UCL Civil Engineering labs, connected to the pipes in Mexico and installed on site.
You can see the difference between the old and new ions (above and below), they reduce in size as the silver is used and gather dirt (the unwanted minerals and bacteria that isn't wanted in the water)
You can see the difference between the old and new ions (above and below), they reduce in size as the silver is used and gather dirt (the unwanted minerals and bacteria that isn't wanted in the water)
In La Aurora Laura was working all afternoon with the teachers, the parents of the school and their children (who attend the school).
Laura and co. applying silicon sealant to the canaletas/roof pipes.
School kids messing around whilst cleaning out the cistern
Re-sealing the Cistern water exit (below)
To finish, here's some off-the-clock pictures from the city
Laura crazy happy on receiving her university results, a 2:1 degree in Civil Engineering, congratulations!!
We've had some great evenings outside with Taylor and Will, the other volunteers we met here
Gaby in the main plaza of San Miguel de Allende.
Will and Gaby looking over the garden of la casa de cultura
View from the mirador at the top of the city
Saying goodbye to Taylor as he goes to Mexico City for the IRRI summer course, see you very soon!
That's it, I hope you enjoyed seeing what the essence our project has been about, we're carrying on with work and hopefully will finish okay!
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