TWO WELLS

We arrived at a well drilling site where the well will be dug by a large mechanical drill rig. Workers are hand digging two waste water holding pits. In the background is a large water bladder which is partially full that supplies the water for the drilling process.

This pit is almost complete.

Well workers.

View of the well drilling rig and the water storage reservoir. Water will be pumped into the reservoir and distributed to water stations throughout the village.

Drill rig and reservoir.

Drill pipe and bit with workers and Eddie the well monitor and interpreter who is hogging the photo.

Closeup of the drill bit.

Drill derrick.

The clutch burned up so the rig is being repaired in place. It will not stop the drilling which works off a separate motor.

The clutch plate, obviously well worn before this job.

Tools used during the drilling. All are broken or worn badly.

Still digging.

Home of the land owners adjacent to the well.

Drill pipe to be used for the well.

The clutch pressure plate, also well worn.

A typical gate found on most private homes of the wealthy.

We stopped to inspect an LDS Church meeting house.

Sign on the Church compound wall.

The meeting house inside the compound.

Panorama.

A meeting room.

Sacrament meeting room.

We hurried back to observe the water truck filling the bladder.

Hooking up the hose to fill the bladder. School kids observing.

The truck has made several trips to the river to fill the bladder and has one more to go.

Curious school boys.

Typical shovel which are bought without handles which are added and replaced as they break. Handles are usually a smoothed tree branch or other piece of wood.

Adding a length of pipe to the hose.

Interesting back pack.

Attaching a flexible elbow to the pipe.

Attaching the hose to one end of the pipe.

Taping the pipe with rubber cut from an inner tube.

Finishing the elbow attachment.

Pumping water from the truck.

Closeup of the back pack.

I couldn't get this child to smile.

Elder Moon relaxing in the chair.

Our road out of the area.

Beef ready for sale.

This well was being renovated when the pump separated from the well pipe deep inside. A device was used to re-attach some pipe in order to retrieve the pump and secure it better.

Lengths of well pipe are hoisted out until the pump is reached.

Hoisting pipe from the well.

A manual and electric winch are used. A metal clasp is attached at each joint in order prevent the pipe from falling down into the well when a length is detached.

While observing I noticed wires entering the building on the property patched together and wrapped with plastic bags. The wires were buried leading to a nearby power poll.

The electrical cord to the submersible pump must be pulled out as the pipes are hoisted.

Each detached length of pipe is full of water which is captured in a bucket.

New plastic pipe is used to replace the galvanized pipe.

The road in and out of the village where the well is located. 

The Bishop's blue suede shoes. Yes, a random photo.