Na Kok Village Self-Sufficient Water Supply Construction Project - Update!

Water wheel on Hin Boon River

SUMMARY
Stage I of the unusual water supply project for Na Kok village in Central Laos is complete. Pumping water uphill is not an unusual goal in itself, but doing so without pumps and generators brought from afar is. The Stage I goal was to build and employ a water wheel which is turned constantly by the ever-moving Hin Boon River, to supply 45 houses of Na Kok village and the local school & temple with water for bathing. Water is pumped from the river upwards some 30 meters (from the river to the village, then from ground level up to several storage cisterns). This water is filtered through several levels of charcoal and can be boiled for drinking.

Locally produced charcoal filtration

This project was made financially possible by generous donations of The Lonsdale Family from the UK; Mr. & Mrs. Ruppman from Germany; and Mr. William Disbrow of Canada.

Toilet and bathing facilities constructed for hygiene

Construction was carried out by villagers and one North by North-East staff (Mr. Montri Pohom). While originally we hoped to match this unusual job of constructing and installing the water wheel with a group of high school or university student volunteers from an American or European educational institution, once the villagers reached consensus on designs and costs, the villagers agreed it was better to get the project underway regardless.

The project began supplying water to the villager’s houses in early June 2007.

Water is now flowing up hill!

BACK GROUND ON THE AREA & PROJECT
The Hin Boon River in Central Laos offers visually dramatic boat trips through rugged limestone canyons. Cathedral-sized caves – running for 1-2 km – are common to the local geology and have proven to be popular destinations as day-trips / walks with our guests who visit the area. The area is remote and not easy to access, so North by North-East has always worked with local villages in the provision of services to our guests. Consequently strong relationships have been built between villagers and members of our staff. In 2006 the village elders asked us if we could assist them in building a water supply. In the past someone from each of the 45 homes in Na Kok had to make many back and forth trips from house to river to meet bathing and other needs at home. North by North-East agreed to try to help. The February 2007 North by North-East Newsletter has an article detailing the genesis of the project. (Click here to read)

The benefits are shared by all villagers!

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