Fixing the Damage

So, a lot of things have become damaged here over the past couple days. First, it was the Torti water project, second the Wacuco water project and then it was the Pan-American Highway.

The water system of the town of Torti went dry for a day or so, so a couple of workers and I went Torti Arriba to investigate why water was not getting to the reservoir tank. Our water source is about 10km up into the mountains, so this is no easy fix just due to the distance and the great trouble it is to travel on the one and only path that goes up the mountain. We took up two ATVs with us. One has four wheel drive, the one Juni and I were using, and another is only two wheel drive, which Ramon used. With only about ten minutes on the trail, we encountered an impassable part that was covered in rock and mud due to a mudslide. So, we cleared a path wide enough to get by and continued on. Then about another ten minutes up the road, the ATV I was on got stuck in a couple feet deep of mud which was very difficult to get loose. Luckily, a guy that was walking by helped us to lift it out of the mud and onto a less muddy part of the road so we could gain some traction and finally get out. There were more parts that made us need to get out and push the ATV or tow using the other ATV or visaversa. But, finally we made it to a part where there was a water shut-off valve, so we could fix whatever tube was damaged. But, to get to the valve, we had to cross a river that had recently risen. So, we followed this river looking for a sign of a break, and finally we found it! It was about midday when Juni and I started to fix the break as Ramon went to turn off the water flow so we could attach a new pvc coupling. Ramon crossed the river at its shallowest point, which still came up to his chest! Luckily we did it all safely and were able to get water flowing through the pipe again. So, we made it back down the mountain and that afternoon the three of us cleaned out the water tank to ensure clean water would be entering into the water system. When the rivers crest due to a good amount of rain, a lot of sediment collects at the bottom of the tank, which doesnt help with the water flow. So, it was quite a long day, but a good day. It´s nice to do things sometimes that has results you can see, especially when you are helping a whole community with something so vital as water.

Then a couple days later, there was no water in Wacuco, where I live. So, three of us went up to check on the water tanks on the Wacuco water system. Luckily we found the problem which was in the break-pressure water tank not too far from the house. Only about a 15 minute ATV ride. This time the exit pipe of the tank was being blocked by roots and leaves, so I climbed on in and cleaned the tank out. We have no idea how this plant got in there, but it seemed to enjoy living in there. Poor plant, but, sorry, we need water!

The third and final problem was with the highway. A mudslide blocked both lanes of traffic in between the towns of Wacuco and Ipeti a couple days ago. There is a good amount of traffic on this road, seeing that it is the only road that connects Alto Bayano, where I live, with the rest of Panama. So, Father Wally was calling the government to see what they would do about, and finally came to the conclusion that it would be faster if we cleared it, because we had the equipment to do it and we are in close proximity. So, right now that is something we are working on and hopefully the government with come through and pay us for our labors. Right now, one lane is open, but it is a very dangerous job to do because more mudslides are possible due to the amount of rain we have been getting lately. So, hopefully we will be able to open both lanes of traffic up soon to give aid to the great amount of people who depend on this road.

So, this week has been full of its calamaties, and I have had the gift of being involved in it all. Never a dull day in Wacuco! Thanks for reading and I'll try to get some pictures up soon. Peace.