Day 2 - Drill

A good day drilling today. Drilled with air to 85'; the top of the water table was approximately 65'. Apparently, most places around Rivas produce fairly low rate wells, but a nearby well produced over 100 GPM, and this one looks as if it will produce a lot too.

The name of the community is La Curba - meaning 'The Curve'. Must be taken from the highway right next to the well and church - the Pan American Highway. It's a straightaway through this area. 

Packing up to go to the community we're serving

Drilling right in front of a church

Expect to drill another 5' tomorrow, then run (PVC) pipe and gravel pack. OK, for those who haven't been on a trip, the hole we're drilling is about 8" in diameter; we run 4-1/2" PVC pipe from top to bottom - the bottom 20' is usually slotted with saw cuts in it. This allows water to flow through, but the pipe prevents the formation from coming into the well. We put gravel opposite the slots on bottom, to filter sand and form a bridge between the formation and the pipe. After placing the gravel, we'll fill the well (on the outside of the PVC pipe) with a mix of dirt, clay, and cement, to seal it so dirty water from the surface doesn't contaminate the clean water from below.

...and the dust is blowing right in

Then, when we hit water, the dust turns to mud
 (sorry, I'll try to turn sideways next time)

Please keep praying that we complete the well with clean, safe water for La Curba; that everyone is safe from accidents and disease, and that the people here see God's handiwork reflected in what we do.