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.
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| Liancourt |
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| Karen knows everyone |
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| Plumbing store |
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| Shopping |
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| Supplies |
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| Don’t miss anything off the list Keith |
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| 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.
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.
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| The water tanks |
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| Gravity feed |
The water holding tanks used to be on the 3rd floor of the main building. The earthquake of 2010 destroyed the structure so now they are on an independent tower.
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| 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.
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| Sandra |
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| Jonathan |
~Keith
