We have gotten off to a good start in our
new monitoring and evaluation program. The COCIRA council is taking this work
on as their responsibility. They will be inspecting every cistern constructed
during this grant and will be administering a survey as well as noting the GPS
coordinates of each cistern.
We are finding that there is a common set of
problems that we can discover soon after construction: leaks in the galvanized
plumbing, confusion in connecting the gutter system to the cistern, leaks in
the cold joint at the base, leaks where the galvanized nipples penetrate the
cistern, no first flush mechanism installed. None of these problems,
individually, seem persistent, but when they are all taken together as a group,
it is clear that early intervention on our part will improve the success of the project ie ultimately, our work monitoring will lead to minor tweaks to the
construction process that will lead overall to an improved process.
From our inspections thus far, we have been
generating a list of “recurring problems” with appropriate solutions to
those problems.. This is being developed into a “Use and Maintenance Manual”
that we intend to publish and distribute to all project beneficiaries later in
the summer or early in the fall. We are seeking simple solutions using
materials commonly available in each community when possible. For problems of a
more serious nature that would render a system completely dysfunctional, we are
meeting with experts to look for the appropriate repair techniques and
materials for those relatively rare cases.
One possibility being
discussed is placing about US$100 worth of commonly needed materials and repair
parts with the COCIRA council member in each community to have an inventory of
immediately available repair parts. The thought is that the council member
would collect the cost of the materials as they are dispensed and then use that
to replenish the inventory to maintain a perpetual supply.
We are also considering returning to each
community from this project to have a “Water Day” where we can individually
consult on any problems and their solutions, where we can talk more about water
safety and the benefits of using bio-contamination disinfection methods to
improve water quality. We believe the opportunity for additional training and
education will enhance the sustainability of these projects.
In addition to the evaluation of the
cisterns built during this grant, the COCIRA council has indicated they
are willing to go back to visit and inspect all cisterns constructed since 2009
– ie approx 725 cisterns in total. Collecting this data and using it to
improve future projects will lead to better utilization of our future grant
funds. Knowledge is power.
Submitted by Lee Carter, Rotary San Miguel
Midday
