The How - About Water

Currently we have 2  Project Managers on the ground overseeing the water project. We have also employed 8 other men who make the filters and ensure safe set up and maintenance of the water filtration. To begin the production of the filters, you need to have a frame constructed by a welder. This frame needs to be made precisely as described in the very detailed plans. Our location in Puriales, Maisi received their frame in September of 2012. To which it needed some fixing up before it worked. This fixing up was completed on a trip we made in November 2012. Our La Tinta, Maisi location received their frame in June 2015. Our Our La Maquina site received their frame in May 2016 and finally our Sabana site received their frame in November 2017. Each location is in need of tools which are very hard to come by in Cuba. Especially good ones, so many of these tools are brought from Canada. Each location is also then in need of ongoing Raw Materials to construct the filters. The materials needed to make the filters are: cement, sand, gravel, wood (for the lid), water (for washing the sand and gravel), surgical tubing, and diffuser plates. At this point the only things we bring from Canada are the diffuser plates and the surgical tubing. Both of these materials are not to be found yet in Cuba. We would like to be able to purchase all of the materials in Cuba to help their economy, but this is currently quite a struggle.

Once all the Water Technicians has all the raw materials and the frame in place, they begin to produce the concrete bio sand water filters.  The concrete is poured into the frame and it sits in it for 24 hours.  The frame is then taken off of the cement and a bio sand filter is produced.  It then is filled with water to hep it cure for 7 days.  During this time the family that is going to receive the filter comes to the workshop and helps the technician with the sifting and cleaning of the 2 types of gravel and the finely sifted sand.  This can be a tediuos job but it is a great opportunity for the Water Technician to begin building a relationship with the household family member.  If the family does not have someone capable of helping with this we do not demand it, they still receive a filter.  

Then the cement bio sand filter is delivered to the home by the technician.  He brings with him the sand and gravel needed to set up the filter.  It is then when the technician explains how the filter works and how it filters out the impuritites in the water to make it safe to drink.  He also shares that we have all sinned and we need to filter that sin out of our life.  And this is done by accepting Jesus Christ as our own personal Saviour.  He filters out the impuritites in our lives, the sin, so we can stand before God cleaned.  The pastors are so excited that they can use these filters as free gifts to their communities and gives them the opportunity to share God with them.

Below is an older video of myself interviewing and chatting with Pastor Alex from Cuba.  We discuss the importance of water filters in the homes of the people in the Eastern part of Cuba.  You will also see how a biosand filter is made and delivered. 

A few former board members and current board members read some letters from recipients of the filters.  Please sit back and enjoy the video.