Women carrying water from the well in Potreritos
The communities are located in a monsoonal climate that only recieves rain for 5 to 6 months out of the year, making water a very precious and scarce resource. Access to water comes from hand or machine dug wells, where women and children go to bring water back to their homes. In some communities, the well is located over one mile away, making the chore of getting water difficult and time consuming.
The systems are designed for use in the rural outback in Australia, functioning with little input and maintanence. Technicians from each community are trained to identify and problem solve issues that arise in the system. Water is pumped from a well to a storage tank(s) and gravity fed through PVC tubes to a faucet in each house. Families are required to work a certain number of days, build a latrine, plant trees and pay for water usage in order to benefit from the project.
See our photos of completed water projects!
Candelaria
Water Tank in Candelaria
Beneficiaries: 240 residents
Solar Panels: 14 panels rated at 94 watts each connected in 2 series of 7, providing a total of 1.2 kilowatts
Pump: Grundfos 11 SQF-2, 10 gallon per minute (gpm) flow, installed at a depth of 36 meters
Well Capacity: Rated at 15 gpm
Water Storage: 6, 500 gallon tank, located 55 meters above the pump, automatic shut off switch when tank is full, chloronated weekly
Project Completion Date: August 2004
View more photos of Candelaria
Potreritos
Beneficiaries: 500 residents in the communities of Potreritos, Paso Honda and San Diego
Solar Panel Installation in Potreritos
Solar Panels: Primary–11panels rated at 123 watts each connected in 2 series of 11, providing a total of 2.7 kilowatts. Secondary–2 panels rated each at 80 watts connected in series, providing 160 watts.
Pump: Primary– SunPumps SCS 20-200, 2 hp, 20 gpm, installed at a depth of ?? meters. Secondary–SunPumps SDS Q 128, 3 gpm
Well Capacity: Rated at 74 gpm
Water Storage: Tank 1 – 6, 500 gallons, located at 55 meters above well, Tank 2 – 1,500 gallons, gravity fed by tank 1, Tank 3 – 1,500 gallons, 30 meters above tank 2, fed by secondary pump from tank 2, automatic shut off switch when tanks are full
Project Completion Date: 2006
Bramadero
Installing the Pump in Bramadero
Beneficiaries: 200 residents
Solar Panels: 9 panels rated at 170 watts each connected in 3 groups of series and then paralled, providing a total of 1.5 kilowatts
Pump: Mono Pump Sun Sub, 11 gpm, installed at a depth of 36 meters
Well Capacity: Rated at 10 gpm, machine drilled to a depth of 60 meters
Water Storage: Primary–Tank 1 -5,000 gallon tank, located 80 meters above the well, Secondary–Tank 2 -1,500 gallons, 15 meters from well, automatic shut off switch when tanks are full
Project Completion Date: November 2007
Son Zapote
Beneficiaries: 400 residents
The first time families in Son Zapote have running water in their homes
Solar Panels: 12 panels rated at 175 watts each connected in 3 parrell strings of 4 panels each, providing a total of 2.1 kilowatts
Pump: Mono Pump Sun Sub SM042, 15 gpm, installed at a depth of 36 meters
Well Capacity: Rated at 20??? gpm
Water Storage: Primary–Tank 1 -5,000 gallon tank, located 70 meters above the well, Secondary–Tank 2 -1,500 gallons, located 16 meters above the well, automatic shut off switch when tanks are full
Project Completion Date: June 2009
