This past January, February,
and March, Water for Life International, continued
efforts to bring clean water to the villages of
rural northeast Guatemala.
Organizational
Progress:
Water for Life International
has been granted 501(c) (3) status as a tax exempt
organization by the IRS. We can now accept
donations directly and give tax deduction letters
to donors. We have established a bank account in
Guatemala, and will retain the services of an
attorney to register our corporation there as a
foreign non-profit corporation.
Drilling
Progress:
The drilling efforts resulted
in new wells in five villages that previously had
no reliable access to clean
water.
At Santa Crux, good water is
now being produced from a well about 160 feet deep.
A hand pump was installed there because there is no
grid power at this village. The drilling there was
by John Hansen and Sam Knesal.
In the village of El Pato,
which is a bone jarring journey 15 miles off the
highway that takes about 1.5 hours to travel, a
well was finished to a depth of 180 feet. A hand
pump was placed there also. This village had only
seasonal water before. In the dry seasons the
villagers had to walk 4 kilometers to get good
water. When the rig arrived after dark one night
the villagers were all out yelling and whooping
their approval. Dave Rutledge and Dominic
Parmantier, both of the Seattle/Tacoma area,
drilled this well.
Jabonche` is a village in an
area that is high and dry. The drilling was done in
a dry hole for the first 400 ft. The tools were
lost deep in the well, but were fished out after 4
days of hard work. Bucky Mowrey from Ohio and his
helper Speedy Gonzales (true name) worked on this
well. Our efforts ended at the drilling limit for
this rig of 560 feet which is all the cable on the
rig. There is enough water there for a hand pump
but the water is deep in the well. A volunteer
group, Engineers without Boarders, is working on
this problem of bringing the water to the surface
in this area of no power.
A hand pump was placed in a
previously drilled well at Saboneta. Although on
the grid, the villagers are unable to get power to
the well, because there is no way to pay for the
transformer and for the connections to the power
system. There is a water distribution system in the
village, and an electric pump could be installed if
the power problem could be
resolved.
The village of Achiotalito has
a well about 120 feet that was drilled by Bob Perry
of Spanish Fork, Utah with Kyle Robison of Newport,
Washington helping him. A hand pump was placed
there which is delivering good water to the
people.
In the village of Ixyuc a well
was drilled to a dept of about 100 feet. Plenty of
water is available but we did not have a hand pump
to install there. Glen Frachiseur of Priest River,
Idaho was the driller with Kyle Robison
helping.
We were unable to take either
drilling rig outside the country. Paperwork issues
that developed, did not reassure us that when we
brought the rig back, we would not have to pay
import duty all over again. We decided that the
risk was unacceptable at this
time.
Infrastructure
Progress:
This past season one of the
major efforts we engaged in was to finish building
up the shop building on the campus of ICAP. This
building is our headquarters. It is a large
structure 40 x 60 feet. There are large overhangs
at the eves and tucked under them are two
containers which function as secure storage. This
building is large enough to house our rigs and
trucks and necessary shop equipment for the
continuation of our work.
In the rear of the building,
the roof has been extended and we finished 4
apartments for housing the volunteers who come and
work on the projects. These units can house up to
20 people. Each has a bathroom. There is a large
common porch which can function as a meeting place
for all the volunteers. It is a beautiful and very
useful building to us.
We have established a good
relationship with the local mayor. He had been very
helpful to us and we have accepted his suggestions
and assistance about where to drill wells. The
mayor has provided us a document which will help us
if one of our vehicles is stopped by the police for
no license or some problem. There are literally
hundreds of small villages throughout the area and
he is very happy that we have helped him serve the
people of his district.
One year ago we installed a
merry-go round pump in a village called La Canoa.
One of our volunteers was told at that time that 3
babies had died in the last year and that at least
one every year before that had died. Our volunteer
went back to the village to see how the pump was
working and spoke with the women. In the year that
they have had clean water, not one infant has
died.
We have a group of dedicated
drillers from across the US who traveled to
Guatemala to drill in the villages. Some of them
were on their third trip to help us. These fine men
and women really do the hour by hour and day by day
work which makes this miracle of clean water
happen. There is more to do.
Spring
2008
In 2008, three wells were completed in the villages
of Saboneta, Tanhoc, and La Canoa.
Completing the well at
Saboneta was particularly satisfying since a
previous attempt in 2007 resulted in a dry hole at
over 500 feet deep. However, after working with the
local government to obtain aerial photos and
consulting a hydro geologist, Chuck Gruenenfelder,
from Spokane, Washington we were able to choose a
different site which resulted in water at 250 feet.
Bob Perry of Utah was the driller and Ernie Parkins
also of Utah along with Dave Klomp of California
assisted in completing this
well.
A merry-go-round style pump
was installed in the village of La Canoa and a hand
pump in the village of Tanhoc. Both of these wells
were drilled by Bucky Mowrey of Ohio with Billy
Hamilton of Ohio assisting
him.
Another pump was installed
by Lynn Bartholomew in a previously drilled well at
a nearby medical clinic.
In addition to the wells,
we started a 40x60 foot structure that will become
our shop. The walls and roof were built and doors
were installed. The donation of a forklift by Jim
and Rhonda Beyreis of Arizona will greatly assist
in loading and unloading supplies in and around the
shop.
Spring
2007
This year marked the completion of a major project
at the Orphanage and school campus of International
children’s Care in Poptun, Guatemala. This
was made possible through the generous donation of
a set of steel forms by Mt Baker Silo Company of
Bellingham Washington. The kind folks at Mt Baker
gave us the forms and just as important, allowed
our volunteers to watch and learn as they used the
techniques on construction projects here in
Washington. This gave our crew first-hand
experience with the planning and construction of
these water storage reservoirs.
These are not simple structures. They are twenty
feet in diameter and twenty feet high. Each
contains 10,000 lbs of steel rebar and used more
than 400 bags of concrete. They sit on bases 24
feet in diameter that are 14 in thick. The walls
are 6 in thick. Each is fully enclosed without any
possible avenue for the snakes, bats, bugs, and
other critters that slither, crawl and fly
everywhere in the jungle in that area. They are
connected to the campus infrastructure by 4 in
water lines. They have valves so they can be filled
simultaneously or separately as needed. The tanks
have a float that operates a solar-powered
radio-controlled switch that controls the pump at
the well as the water is used.
The construction techniques used were a bit more
primitive than here in the States. There was no
redi-mix truck to deliver concrete of just the
correct specification. There were no engineers
conducting slump tests as the concrete on the
project was poured. The concrete was mixed in small
gas powered mixers, usually 3 or 4 depending on how
many we could get and how many were working at the
time. There is no equipment rental store to visit
if a piece of equipment gives out. You just make do
with what you have and what you can make work. This
can be critical. The slab and each pour of the
walls must be continuous without any “dry
joints” that will leak.
The workers were a combination of students and
volunteers from Spokane. The Foreman was Lynn
Bartholomew and the Construction Superintendent was
our heavenly Father.
The project was completed without serious injury to
any one and the tanks are serving their intended
purpose of storing the clean water that comes from
the earth as a result of the generous hearts of
many people.
Winter
2006
On December 7, 2005, a container was loaded at the
Bartholomew’s yard and headed to Poptun,
Guatemala. It contained a well service truck, steel
forms for a concrete water reservoir, generators,
spare drilling tools, a spool of cable and other
equipment; 40,000 lbs in all!
The container’s journey was long and
difficult. It went by truck to Seattle, then by
rail to Long Beach, then by a ship of the Maersk
line to Guatemala and then by truck again to
Poptun. The transit was to take about 3 weeks. The
container was not delivered until January 17th due
to “problems” with paper work; issues
between the main office of the shipping company and
the Guatemala office. After days of negotiation,
faxes back and forth and the payment of some
“adjustments”, the container was
released.
All cargo was intact. Lynn Bartholomew immediately
set to work placing steel forms on the concrete pad
which had previously been constructed. After 2 days
of hard work the forms were ready, but the weather
was not. Rain every day disrupted the schedule.
Lynn decided the best course of action was to wait
until April for the pouring of the walls.
While Lynn had been working hard on the reservoir
project, Gary Bartholomew and volunteer Brian Bot
of Halifax, Nova Scotia, worked drilling a well on
Los Pinos property. The drilling went well until at
280 feet the cable broke a few inches above the
thimble. They prayed and then went
“fishing”. They were able to extract
the tools. They declared that hole completed and
the rig was driven to the shop for some
maintenance. After some repairs the rig was driven
10 miles to Ixobel, a “suburb” village
of Poptun. (If “suburb” can describe
300 homes and hovels with no water or sanitary
facilities of any kind) You can see things swimming
in the only water that is available outside of a
bottle.
The mayor of Poptun indicated he wanted the well to
be near the new school and assisted us by providing
security for the rig at night and support during
the day with water, soda pop, food, shade and
interest. Men carried the bailed water away in
order to keep the drill site dry and clean as
possible. The mayor has promised to pay for casing
and a pump.
As of this writing the drill is at 187 feet in
limestone that does not have the clay layers we
have seen previously. The well is cased to 120 feet
with steel. There is plenty of water in the hole.
Yesterday 43 feet was drilled. A good day in the
life of a 1942 GMC 22W rig far from it’s
Oregon home in the highland jungle of
Guatemala.
Fall
2006
At the date of this writing in early December 2006,
the pace of preparations at the Bartholomew shop
and yard is hectic. The new rig is being prepared.
Tool boxes are being built and steel covers on all
tanks and tool boxes and compartments. The propane
engine on this rig makes it very useful as propane
is easily obtained in Guatemala and a cover has
been fashioned to prevent theft of propane. The
brakes were checked and repaired by our mechanic
Frank Clark, and all changeable fuels and
lubricants were changed.
At the same time a container is being filled with
drilling steel tools, pump wire, pumps and electric
equipment and boxes and boxes of items destined for
the orphanage campus.
A special friend of the project, Mr. Willis
Robinson of Spangle Washington, has offered to
transport the high-cube container from Spokane to
Galveston for the cost of fuel. This kind
assistance allows us to stretch our dollars and
makes the project possible. Another friend, Tom
Richardson of H2o Drilling in Hayden Idaho,
delivered his contribution. A brand new, in the
box, Lincoln Welder! This generous gift completes
the tools on the rig and will give many years of
good service.
Two weeks ago, I was in Guatemala and visited with
the Mayor of Poptun. He reported that our well in
Ixobel had been tested by the authorities in
Guatemala City and found to be capable of producing
300 gals/min. He was very happy. He intends to hook
it to the plumbing infrastructure that is being
installed in the Sante Fe and Ixobel area. I spoke
with him about whether he could help us get the rig
and the container into the country without paying
duty. He promised his help and said that he would
take the documents to his contact with the
secretary of the President. He said that it would
be possible to get them in to the country without
paying duty. I also told the mayor that we plan to
begin two wells in January.
We look forward to a good drilling season with
several volunteers who learned about this project
through this publication.
Summer
2006
Preparations are underway at the Bartholomew yard
for the drilling season in Guatemala. The new to us
but used rig is being readied for shipment. A large
tool box is being built to go behind the cab of the
truck. It looks like a sleeper on an 18 wheeler,
but it is very necessary for security. The rig is
being checked from top to bottom and repaired as
necessary. We are collecting tools and equipment
for shipment in the container that will accompany
the rig to Guatemala.
A generous supporter, Don Bean of Pacific Northwest
Supply, has given us 1500 ft of #6 submersible wire
for the wells and Tom Richardson of H2O Drilling
has provided a welder for the rig. These generous
men have helped us preserve the funds we have by
their donations.
We have promised help from a few drillers who will
be coming to Guatemala to help for a couple of
weeks at a time and we look forward to what we can
accomplish with their help and the blessings of
God. It is our intension to drill at a hospital in
Belize near the Guatemala border. They are
desperate for good water and they can help defray
the costs of a well. With the new rig being more
road-worthy than the 1946 GMC 6x6, we can more
easily travel to meet specific needs such as
this.
We intend to ship the rig and the container in
early December to be ready to drill in early
January.
Spring
2006
The GWP is happy to report the progress of this
last winter’s drilling Project and the
prospects for the coming season. This past season
saw the completion of the drilling on the
International Children’s Care campus,
completion of one of the concrete water storage
reservoirs, and the completion of a well in Ixobel,
a village outside of Poptun.
As a result of the generosity of Mt Baker Silo
Company of Bellingham, Washington, who donated the
steel forms, we were able to construct a 20 ft
diameter by 20 high concrete water tower. It was
completed in two visits by Lynn Bartholomew and his
faithful volunteers from the Spokane Area with
local help from students and workers. It was a big
project, with the base pour being 18 yards mixed in
three mixers. And then subsequent 12 yard pours for
each time the forms were raised higher. No one got
hurt, and the project was completed without
incident.
The GWP was blessed by a grant from a Christian
organization of businesspeople with $30,000.00, to
devote to further work in Guatemala. With this
money we will ship a newer drilling rig which we
have to support further drilling efforts in the
villages around the area of Poptun, Guatemala. We
will also purchase supplies and equipment that we
cannot obtain in Central America.
Please help us. We need money for fuel for the
drilling and we need to buy many items that are
necessary to support out project. Most of all, we
need people who are willing to pray for our efforts
and we invite anyone who feels willing, to come and
help us drill.
We offer a life changing experiences. Not just the
lives you change by giving them water, but your
own, as you see the difference you can make in the
world.
Winter
2005
The yard and the shop at the
Bartholowmew’s in Spokane during November
and December was a busy place. The stockpile of
items to be shipped was growing. Each item
shipped has to be labeled, inventoried, and
weighed. The gas tanks have to be drained on
all motors. The tool stems were checked and
thread protectors fashioned. As the pile grew,
weight became a primary consideration because
shipping container capacity was limited to
44,000 pounds. Some decisions on what to take
could not be made till the last moment.
Finally the container arrived and on one long
cold day was loaded with 40,000 pounds of
tools, generators, forms, well service truck,
and fire fighting gear. The container was to go
by truck to Seattle then by rail to Long Beach
and then on a Mersk Line ship to Puerto Barrios
on the Pacific side of Guatemala then by truck
to the northeast portion of Guatemala. This
seems like a long and perilous journey for our
precious load of material.
This year’s project, in addition to the
drilling, is construction of a 20ft diameter
and 20ft tall concrete water reservoir. A
generous friend, Scott Hamstra of Mt Baker Silo
Co of Bellingham WA, donated a set of steel
forms and allowed Lynn Bartholomew to gain
experience with the techniques involved. The
base of the tank is 24’ diameter and 1ft
thick. This will be done in one pour with six
small mixers and about 40 men. Another friend,
Cory Startup, at Sequim Valley Pumps, donated a
well service truck in good used condition. The
truck will be invaluable to our project.
This year’s first drilling effort will be
one more well at the orphanage campus, and then
we will drill in a nearby village. The village
has no electricity or water. We have a 22 hp
Lister diesel generator which will provide
electrical power for the well pump and
rudimentary other service. The villagers will
build a generator house and dig trenches for
the basic water service.
At this writing the container is mired in the
Guatemala import and customs process. But, we
are confident that with God as our shipping
agent, we will see the equipment delivered
safely at the right time to the ICC
campus.
Send email to: Info@H2oForLife.org
Water For Life International P.O. Box 2330
Deer Park WA 99006 Phone
509-842-3952
