SonLight Power Teams with Amigos for Christ to Transform Lives for 60 Families in Nicaragua
June 29, 2012
The Mission:
Help 60 families in a remote part of Nicaragua sustainably access the living and natural water they need to survive and grow.
From Collaboration to Innovation
In March 2012, SonLight Power partnered with Amigos for Christ (AfC) to develop a solar powered solution for the 60 families of Rincon de Garcia, a remote town outside of Chinandega, Nicaragua with limited access to clean water. This life-changing project aims to deliver 6,000 gallons of clean water per day to the doorsteps of Rincon de Garcia households.
Clean water is a precious commodity in Rincon de Garcia, a village renowned for its extreme heat and humidity along Nicaragua's Pacific coast. Public water in Rincon de Garcia is dirty and contaminated. Prior to SonLight Power's visit, residents of the community, including children and the elderly, trekked hundreds of meters to the nearest well several times each day to fetch and carry clean water back to their homes in heavy, multi-gallon jugs.
"It's gratifying to know that so many families now have the clean water they need delivered to their homes each day, due in part to the work we accomplished that week."
Collaborative impact is central to the success of SonLight Power outreach and this initiative was no different. Several months before the project installation, AfC leaders contacted SonLight Power for advice on how to best serve the families of Rincon de Garcia. Aligned with SonLight Power's mission, AfC is a faith-based nonprofit working in Nicaragua to promote rural development in the areas of water and sanitation, health care, education and nutrition, small business, and community development. Other groups were involved at different stages of the project, including students from Georgia Tech, Loyola University, and various high schools.
The project objective was to sustainably deliver 100 gallons of clean water to each of the 60 households in Rincon de Garcia. In collaboration with a team of AfC-affiliated personnel, SonLight Power installed a solar powered water pump system to meet and exceed that objective.
The solution didn't come easy. The 6,000 gallons-per-day target was more than the rating for any solar pump at the 300-foot depth of the well. The project leveraged the experience of Allen Rainey, SonLight Power Founder and Director of Programs. Allen carefully calculated the solar power required to generate the maximum pumping volts - twelve Evergreen 215-watt solar panels were needed to power a Grundfos brand pump. SonLight Power Engineering Innovation Leader, Terri MacGregor, designed the racking system for the solar array using various sizes and lengths of pipe.
The AfC crew, led by Jeremy Sutton, performed much of the heavy labor - including inserting the pump down the 300-foot well shaft. Once mounted, the solar panels offered the only source of shade at the worksite, where daytime temperatures hovering near 100 degrees Fahrenheit felt even hotter with direct sun beating overhead. Meanwhile, community members and student groups started digging the long trench that would eventually contain piping to stretch from the well to homes in Rincon de Garcia.
Collaboration leads to fellowship that transcends projects like these. Outside working hours, Terri hiked around a nearby volcano with visiting Georgia Tech engineering students. On the trail, an electrical engineering major named Jimmy expressed his interest in the solar project and joined Terri and Allen the next day. Terri, a NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™ with a MS in Electrical Engineering, took time to mentor Jimmy by providing real-world instruction on how to install solar panels and wire the controls.
The final day of work featured system testing to obtain the desired rate of water flow using different solar panel configurations. Within a few minutes of sunrise, the water flowed - even better than anticipated. Preliminary results showed the system would reach the 6,000 gallons-per-day objective with ease. An environmental engineering group involved in the project tested the water and ensured it met clean water standards.
From Innovation to Transformation
As a result of the project, Rincon de Garcia is a center of transformation. Elderly residents like Maria and Ramon Rivera no longer have to make eight daily, labor-intensive trips to a well just to obtain the clean water they need to survive. Now, clean water is channeled directly to their home. Everyday life is less challenging. Personal health and hygiene will improve now that water is readily available to make bathing and sanitation easier.
"It's gratifying to know that so many families now have the clean water they need delivered to their homes each day, due in part to the work we accomplished that week," Allen reflected.
By applying Christian fellowship and solar power in sustainable ways, the solar powered water well project in Rincon de Garcia is another example of how SonLight Power transforms and empowers those we serve with faith, love, and renewed hope.
For more information and on-site photos of these and other sustainable SonLight Power projects, visit and 'Like' the SonLight Power fans page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SonLightPowerFans
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