Drinking Water in Africa

One thing that I hadn't realized that needed to be done everyday is filtering the water to have plenty to drink.  Joe told us about it in one of his e-mails, but it is a time consuming job.  I watched them work on this every day.  It has to be done!

The well-house is behind Bonnie!

Joe was buying water by the truck load to fill his tank each week.  After cleaning up the brush in the yard and looking around he found out that there was a well on the property that wasn't being used.  He started investigating and studying the situation.  Why couldn't he get the well running and use that instead?  He did just that.  Now, he would have water even when the city ran low of water.  The well was a good one.  He pumped the water up the hill to a storage tank behind his house. 

 

The little house in front of the big tank holds the pump.

While we were there, Buster helped Joe put a filter on the tank when the water comes out to go into the house.  That is the first filter.

Into the hydro peroxide bucket.

Inside the house Joe has one 5 gallon bucket of water that comes into his drinking water set-up.  He puts 1/2 teaspoon of bleach into the bucket and lets it set over night after it has been filtered the 2nd time.  Then it is filtered into another bucket that has hydro peroxide in it.  Joe tries to let that set for about 4 hours.  The filter for the hydro peroxide bucket needs to be washed every day.  Then he filters it again into another bucket. 

From the peroxide bucket into the expensive filter that filters the water 5 different ways.

Into the last filter.

They fill clean plastic bottles to put into the freezer.  They use the
frozen bottles to take with them to town, to school, and some to church
with them.  Laura also puts a jug into the refrigerator.  She also makes a
pitcher of tea.  She keeps these full all during the day.

It takes about 2 hours every morning to get the process started then they continue the process off and on during the day.  Laura said they usually filter 5 gallons a day.  When company comes it takes more water to met the needs of everyone. 

Joe said his family does well on this system.  They don't get ill from drinking his water. 

Isaiah 41:17 "When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them."