Yalbac

Today was a big day. We split into 2 groups; one went to Orange Walk, the rest of us went to Yalbac. Yalbac is 30 miles due north of Unitedville. Most of the drive is up rough dirt roads. We went with Sheree and Akai Fukai, and some one named Joe Carlson, all of whom are associated with the Rotary of San Ignacio, are interested in water, and are ex-patriot Americans. None of us speak Spanish. We had instructions to speak to the principal of the school. We left just after noon and arrived in the middle of the day to find the school closed and no one around. We spotted the well. Eventually a couple of teenagers came by and they told us that Mr. Neill, the principle of the school, has closed school because his wife was ill and in the hospital at San Ignacio. They also told us how to find the vice chair person Maria (I think Castillo). Maria spoke only Spanish but we managed to communicate in some basic ways. We learned from her that the second well in the village was contaminated with oil, and the Minister of Health had told them that the other well was contaminated. We learned that the village is 19 families with 106 individuals. We asked where people got water and we were told from the creek. When we asked if they used it to drink she said no, that they buy bottled water (at approximately 1 Bz dollar a gallon). We briefly explained that the system we were proposing would require maintenance and they would have to collect money for it. She was concerned that it would be too much money for the people. We explained that the water would cost about 8 cents/gallon and she was much more interested after that. There are several challenges with a water system for this village: they have no electricity, and due to the hardness and alkalinity they will need reverse osmosis as well. On the positive side, the Rotary is interested in the project and there is an intact village council. The Rotary people will pursue the contacts when we have left and they will keep in contact with us.

We will meet with several people from the Rotary tomorrow. They have people interested in water and also have people who are familiar with water regulations and water boards in Belize.

We have a meeting arranged with the people from Armenia for 6:30PM on Friday. I hope to meet with Odelia and Filberta at 4 PM. The news from them is mixed. The Belizean government will provide water from tank trucks but it is straight river water. The rainy season has just begun so it is possible that the wells near the reservoir will fill and they will have water soon, but another dry season will come.

Dale