agua:yakuagua:yakuagua:yakuagua:yakuAn An EFCCMEFCCM-affiliated water well-affiliated water well

drilling project in Santa Cruz, Boliviadrilling project in Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Map of BoliviaMap of Bolivia

Daniel and Vanessa Beams, missionaries with EFCCM, live Daniel and Vanessa Beams, missionaries with EFCCM, live in the city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia. They work primarily in in the city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia. They work primarily in rural communities in the eastern half of the country. rural communities in the eastern half of the country.

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Typical Water SourcesTypical Water SourcesPeople in rural Bolivia without access to People in rural Bolivia without access to well water are forced to drink from well water are forced to drink from unsafe surface water such as ponds and unsafe surface water such as ponds and rivers.rivers.

Hand Dug WellsHand Dug WellsTraditionally, water is often accessed from Traditionally, water is often accessed from shallow wells that are hand dug. Because the shallow wells that are hand dug. Because the water has not filtered adequately, it is still water has not filtered adequately, it is still unsanitary. These wells also pose a danger for unsanitary. These wells also pose a danger for children who could fall into them.children who could fall into them.

Community Deep WellsCommunity Deep Wells

The government sometimes provides a community with a single centrally The government sometimes provides a community with a single centrally located well. The water is generally clean but families must often carry located well. The water is generally clean but families must often carry water for miles back to their isolated rural homes and farms.water for miles back to their isolated rural homes and farms.

Carrying WaterCarrying Water

The laborious burden The laborious burden of carrying water is of carrying water is generally delegated to generally delegated to women and children.women and children.

Professional Drilled Deep WellsProfessional Drilled Deep Wells

Wealthy farmers and ranchers can Wealthy farmers and ranchers can afford to hire a drilling company to afford to hire a drilling company to drill a private deep well for $3000 to drill a private deep well for $3000 to $10,000 dollars. These expensive $10,000 dollars. These expensive wells are beyond the financial wells are beyond the financial means of peasant farmers who means of peasant farmers who typically do not earn more than typically do not earn more than $500 a year. $500 a year.

agua:yakuagua:yaku - appropriate well drilling technology - appropriate well drilling technology The agua:yaku project is training community organizations The agua:yaku project is training community organizations how to drill family wells using a simple drilling technique that how to drill family wells using a simple drilling technique that uses manual labor and locally available tools and resources. A uses manual labor and locally available tools and resources. A family can drill their own well and install a hand pump for family can drill their own well and install a hand pump for $150 to $250. $150 to $250.

The Well Drilling ProcessThe Well Drilling Process

A scaffolding is constructed, to which a rope and A scaffolding is constructed, to which a rope and pulley is attached.pulley is attached.

Next, a steel drill stem Next, a steel drill stem with a handmade drill-bit is with a handmade drill-bit is driven into the ground driven into the ground using many short fast up using many short fast up and down strokes. Mud and down strokes. Mud (water thickened with (water thickened with bentonite) is used as a bentonite) is used as a drilling fluid to lift cuttings drilling fluid to lift cuttings up through the drill stem up through the drill stem and into a settling pool. and into a settling pool.

The Drilling BitThe Drilling BitThe bit is made from locally available parts and The bit is made from locally available parts and scrap metal, including a valve that opens and scrap metal, including a valve that opens and closes with the up and down action to lift the mud closes with the up and down action to lift the mud and cuttings up through the drill stem. and cuttings up through the drill stem.

Diagram of Drilling TechnologyDiagram of Drilling Technology

As the well As the well deepens, lengths of deepens, lengths of heavy duty PVC heavy duty PVC pipe are coupled to pipe are coupled to the steel drill stem.the steel drill stem.A complete drilling rig and all necessary tools cost A complete drilling rig and all necessary tools cost approximately $400. Rigs are loaned to approximately $400. Rigs are loaned to communities where well digging clubs are formed communities where well digging clubs are formed and families help each other drill wells on each and families help each other drill wells on each group member’s farm.group member’s farm.

As the drilling rig becomes heavier, one person guides the As the drilling rig becomes heavier, one person guides the drill stem while a team of four to six “rowers” lifts and drill stem while a team of four to six “rowers” lifts and drops the rig with a rope and pulley.drops the rig with a rope and pulley.

This technique has been used to drill over 2000 wells in This technique has been used to drill over 2000 wells in Bolivia. It can drill up 300 feet, penetrating top soil, sand, Bolivia. It can drill up 300 feet, penetrating top soil, sand, clay, gravel and light rock. Typical wells are 50 to 150 feet clay, gravel and light rock. Typical wells are 50 to 150 feet deep and can be completed in one to two days.deep and can be completed in one to two days.

To reduce the amount of labor needed to drill To reduce the amount of labor needed to drill a well, the drilling process can also be a well, the drilling process can also be motorized with a portable steel drilling rig and motorized with a portable steel drilling rig and a 4 hp motor. a 4 hp motor.

Once the well has been drilled to the depth Once the well has been drilled to the depth of a clean water aquifer (usually between of a clean water aquifer (usually between

60 and 200 feet), a hand made filter is 60 and 200 feet), a hand made filter is placed in the aquifer and the well is cased placed in the aquifer and the well is cased

using high quality 2” to 4” PVC pipe.using high quality 2” to 4” PVC pipe.

Inserting the filter and Inserting the filter and casing in the well.casing in the well.

Details of Well Casing:Details of Well Casing:

The well is cleaned out and developed using The well is cleaned out and developed using an air compressor or a hand pump. an air compressor or a hand pump.

A hand pump is constructed from parts available in A hand pump is constructed from parts available in local hardware stores. Well owners are taught how to local hardware stores. Well owners are taught how to build and maintain their own pumps. build and maintain their own pumps.

Installing the hand pumpInstalling the hand pump

Completed family well with hand pump.Completed family well with hand pump.

The agua:yaku well drilling project equips poor rural Bolivian families The agua:yaku well drilling project equips poor rural Bolivian families to drill and maintain their own affordable water wells and water to drill and maintain their own affordable water wells and water storage. Easy access to clean water improves the health and hygiene storage. Easy access to clean water improves the health and hygiene of families and enables them to increase family farm income. of families and enables them to increase family farm income. Agua:yaku project staff use friendships with project participants as a Agua:yaku project staff use friendships with project participants as a way to introduce our Christian faith, helping to disciple new believers way to introduce our Christian faith, helping to disciple new believers and strengthen local churches. and strengthen local churches.

Both Canadian and U.S. residents may make Both Canadian and U.S. residents may make tax deductibletax deductible contributions contributions to this ministry. All contributions received will go directly to the EFCCM to this ministry. All contributions received will go directly to the EFCCM for the Beams support and a yearend tax receipt will be returned for the Beams support and a yearend tax receipt will be returned confirming the donation. confirming the donation.

In the U.S. Mail to:In the U.S. Mail to:EFCAEFCAAttn: Donor ServicesAttn: Donor Services901 East 78901 East 78thth St StMinneapolis, MN Minneapolis, MN 55420-130055420-1300

Online:Online:You may also make an online donation using a credit card or set up a monthly You may also make an online donation using a credit card or set up a monthly contribution by visiting the EFCA website at: contribution by visiting the EFCA website at: www.efca.org/giving (US) or (US) or www.efcc.ca/index.cfm?pageID=138(Canadian)(Canadian)

Again be sure to designate the gift for Again be sure to designate the gift for Daniel and Vanessa Beams account Daniel and Vanessa Beams account #001-0116#001-0116

In Canada Mail to:In Canada Mail to:EFCCM Attn: Donor ServicesEFCCM Attn: Donor ServicesPO Box 850, Langley Station PO Box 850, Langley Station LCD 1LCD 1Langley, BCLangley, BCV3A 8S6V3A 8S6

In the memo line please designate the gift In the memo line please designate the gift for for Daniel and Vanessa Beams account Daniel and Vanessa Beams account #001-0116#001-0116..

In the memo line please designate the gift In the memo line please designate the gift to to “Beams in Bolivia.”“Beams in Bolivia.”

Partnership:Partnership:

If you would like more information, please contact us If you would like more information, please contact us below.below.

Contact UsContact Us

In the US:In the US:

agua:yakuagua:yakuc/o Daniel Beamsc/o Daniel Beams3217 Mist Lake Ct3217 Mist Lake CtLexington, KY Lexington, KY 4051540515Tel: 859-338-8034Tel: 859-338-8034

In Bolivia:In Bolivia:

agua:yakuagua:yakuc/o Daniel Beamsc/o Daniel BeamsCasilla 3740Casilla 3740Santa Cruz, BoliviaSanta Cruz, BoliviaTel: 011-591-3351-1087Tel: 011-591-3351-1087

Email:Email:

beamsclan@yahoo.combeamsclan@yahoo.com

Check us out Online:Check us out Online:

http://aguayaku.blogspot.com