Thursday, January 16, 2014

Keith

I spent a good part of today with my head hanging over a toilet or a sink.
No, I wasn’t sick, it was plumbing day. Little kids have unique ways of clogging up sinks and toilets sometimes without even trying.

(Ironically, about 2 hours after I left Montreal last Monday, Joan had a problem with our toilet at home. The handle fell off. While I was enroute to a plumbing job in Haiti she was on the phone to a friend to come and help. Thanks John for bailing me out – I owe you!)

So now we need parts. Off to Liancourt to the local plumbing store. This place was about 3 meters by 10 meters and loaded floor to ceiling. It had almost everything I was looking for with the exception of tap washers and O-rings.  (Next team please bring) It was as well stocked as Home Depot with friendlier and more helpful staff.

Liancourt

Karen knows everyone

Plumbing store

Shopping

Supplies

Don't miss anything off the list Keith

Trying for a discount

Back to the compound and back to work. Water is a scarce and valuable commodity in this country and on this compound. The drinking water comes from a well and is very good. It is electrically pumped up to 4  - 1000 gallons / 37,800 liters each holding tanks and is then distributed by gravity. When the electricity is off, which is often, the tanks can empty in a hurry. So, every leak and drip needs to be fixed. Replaced taps in the laundry and 2 others in the girls’ home and we are good for a few days. I hope.

The water tanks

Gravity feed

The water holding tanks used to be on the 3^rd floor of the main building. The earthquake of 2010 destroyed the structure so now they are on an independent tower.

Old water tank platform

While the older kids were at school the inseparable pair of Sandra and Jonathan played school with their knapsacks and vivid imaginations.

Sandra

Jonathan