[fsf60k] Re: Brace yourselves
- From: richard wiltamuth <dwiltam@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Peter White <pedro831@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:08:22 -0400
if we have to dig a new well, we need to get the best thinking about where
arsenic levels are likely to be lowest in the nuevo area. does anybody in
nica know a proven way to remove arsenic from water? would like to know if
existing water could still be for plants and animals or to bathe in.
in the meantime, since conchita has a vehicle for useful purposes, can she
help get water to nuevo so that they don't have to carry water on their
backs?
dick w.
On Thu, Jul 16, 2009 at 2:59 PM, Peter White <pedro831@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hola. Brace yourselves for sure. Mike arrived in Nica late yesterday to the
> news that the Nica govt. org., Minsa?, tested the water in NA and found it
> to be 40 ppb arsenic, too high considering the nat'l standard is now 10
> ppb.
> They suggested closing the well. We have spent a lot of time on this
> project, including two years ago educating ourselves about arenic from Dr.
> Meng from the STevens Instit. of Tech. in Hoboken, NJ, who believes and has
> proven that arsenic can be removed cheaply, safely, etc. However this may
> be
> of no value if the Nica govt orders the well closed. The other bad news is
> that the two year old diesel motor is unable to be repaired. So the people
> are without water and walking for water I suppose. Mike is going to be
> asking a multitude of questions of the MINSA people and others, and putting
> his head together with Conchita, Martin, and others about what the next
> step/s are. Please think about this and get your questions to Mike or me
> asap. I am going down to Nica for a quick five day visit July 23-27. This
> was supposed to be a joyous visit in part, as we were going to see the
> contract for the installation of the solar water project in NA and put up
> half the money in order to get the project going. Now we are really set
> back. The real problem is the continued suffering of the people.
> The good news I suppose is that we aren't going to be throwing more money
> into the old generator if it is kaput. Also we are not going to spend
> $25000
> on a solar project for a well that may be of no use anymore. Mike says that
> there is a clean water source about 2K from NA, which we know about (I
> think). I beleive it is where the bomba de mescate is located. That's where
> the people walk to when there is no water. It is a hand/rope pump that is
> cumbersome, tiresome, slow, etc. but it has clean water. Or, maybe it isn't
> clean and no one ever tested there??? Frankly, a good portion of Nica is
> with bad water, so what are we to do? I dont' see how La UNion, only 1K
> away, has good water (or maybe it isn't either) and NA is bad. We need
> everyone to think, suggest, provide ideas, etc. so we can move forward
> somehow.
> I remember Dr. Meng saying that the arsenic isn't really in the deep water
> naturally but that arsenic is released from the crushing of the rock when
> deep wells, where water lies below a level of rock, are perforated. In NA,
> the first 40 feet or so was dirt. Then they hit rock which was 60 - 65
> feet.
> The rate of descent was slow, the big drill bit broke a few times, but
> finally the driller struck the water they've been using since Aug. 07.
> Problem probably is that the arsenic gets into the water from the crushing
> of the rock I guess. I'm not the expert here, but I just hope they can
> locate a place where we can begin anew, cheaply, with good water and then
> solarize it from the outset. Be well. Pray. PW
>
>
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