WE HAVE WATER!

I have been absent in blogging for a few days because I was a bit tired and I also wanted to have a more complete post. The SANAA (Servicio Autónomo Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantariallados) workers have finished installing the necessary controls to control the brackish well operation and storage tank as well as the transfer pump which brings water to our container just up the street. In short, we have water to our pilot container now - this is great news! 

"Los Almendros" well and the tank/pump used for the pilot.
Everything is located in a little park with a monument to commemorate a resting spot that inspired villagers in the early 1900s (I haven't found a link in English yet, but here's one in Spanish)

So, what have we been doing for the last several days? Quite a bit, actually. While we were waiting for the pipeline to be finished, we started constructing our salt recovery/enhanced evaporation system. This was an interesting endeavor, because we were using a combination of power tools (powered by renewable energy, of course!) and manual tools. For some fun pictures and the prospective of students, I invite you to check out the UPi students' blog. Their maquinas vs machete post is one of my favorites. We forgot a few fittings and needed some longer hoses than what we had brought, so we got to go shopping in the local hardware stores (ferreterías, in Spanish). This was a bit of an adventure, because each ferretería has different supplies available and driving in Tegucigalpa is disorienting and a bit crazy. Thankfully UPi has provided an excellent driver and tour guide. Mr. Rusbel is wonderful.

Solar salt recovery & enhanced evaporation system. (photo credit: Victoria Amador)
(those from the desert southwest might recognize these as evaporative media panels)

Typical intersection in Tegucigalpa (pedestrians, and motor cycles, and vehicles, OH MY!

(Sun) Power Tools

An unexpected project has been fighting leaks in the roof of our container. As mentioned before, our container was damaged during shipment. While we are waiting for quotes to repair the container we need to have some protection from the rain. We had some leftover panchos from the Desal Prize and have put them to use as tarps. These, plus lots of silicone and duct tape mean things are drying out.

Creative leak mitigation (left) and battery hydrogen venting (right)

Yesterday (23 July), we were able to turn on the desalination system and begin the process of checking for leaks. Anytime a system like this is transported, some leaks related to cracked or loose fittings are expected. Amazingly, we have only located one cracked fitting and two loose fittings. All were fixed and we ran the system for about an hour to get a preliminary impression of how the water quality compares to what we had estimated using modeling software. We are making great water from a salinity perspective! Next week we will operate the system to produce data for a report required by USAID and will also have the first of three training sessions with regional farmers. 

Stay tuned...

Flow test of brackish water pump and pipeline. I made a video on 22 July, but I had my phone in the vertical position on accident so I didn't post it. (photo credit: Clara Borrego)