This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Patrick Marti.
To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.
The project was to build a rainwater catchment system on a building at the Belmont Fishing Beach.
Patrick reports:
The Belmont Fishing Beach Rainwater Catchment Project aimed to provide fishers and other residents of the Belmont community with clean rainwater to be used for the cleaning of fish. It was hoped that by providing a safe alternative to the polluted stream or costly treated water that are normally used to clean fish, the fishers would benefit through a reduced financial burden and the community would benefit through a healthier product for consumption.
We are pleased to report that, thanks to the support of Appropriate Projects, the project has been a resounding success!
Following the receipt of funds, BBFFS Executive Board Members Mr. Livingston Thompson and Mr. Cavin Lattiebudare worked with me to purchase all of the necessary materials. Thanks to the help of a local fisher who is trained as a mason, we were able to construct a concrete platform to hold the catchment tank.
Two other members of the BBFFS assisted the team with the installation of the gutters, piping, and appropriate fixtures. The system was tested repeatedly to ensure that it operated effectively, after which the pipes and fixtures were sealed.
The real test, however, came when a huge rainstorm swept over Belmont the day after the system was installed. Within half an hour the tank was filled to three-quarters capacity, and less than an hour later fishers were using fresh, clean rainwater to wash their hands and clean their fish!
News spread quickly of the new system, and within a week several fishers and community members were using the water instead of the nearby polluted stream. A receptacle was also provided to ensure that any waste generated in the area will be disposed of properly.
Thank you to Appropriate Projects for all of the assistance with the implementation of this project! The project brought together local fishers to address a pressing need, and has led to the informal education of a number of community members about the importance of using clean, safe water for the preparation of fish. The system is being used regularly and will continue to improve the health of local residents while reducing any financial burden that using treated water would have caused.
We, in turn, wish to thank Patrick for completing the project, and again express our gratitude to the Elmo Foundation for its generosity in providing the funds.
