On December 6, 2008, Hydrogeologist Ed Hinchey (former Eastwood Rotarian) and I traveled to the Dominican Republic. Our purpose was to inspect the well at the elementary school in Don Juan. The school has 360 students from disadvantaged families. Many of the children have developmental disabilities. They represent “the poor” among the poor.

The water at the school was previously tested and shown to be contaminated by e-coli. Ron Gaesser, who runs the school, advises currently the children have been prohibited from drinking the water. They run the continued risk of disease as the food and dishes they eat upon are washed in the contaminated water. The entire Town of Don Juan suffers a need for clean water. Currently the water they drink must be transported. It is expensive bottled water.

During the week of December 6th - 12th, Ed and I were able to fully test the well water, its production and its delivery system. Water samples were obtained and delivered to a laboratory in Santo Domingo, DR. Additional water samples were obtained and shipped to Utica Rotarians Connie Shreppel and Steve Gassner. They work for the Mohawk Valley Water Authority and are members of this Water Project Committee.

Both the laboratory in Santo Domingo and Connie Shreppel were able to report to us that the water samples obtained from the well itself indicates the well is producing clean water. Ed Hinchey, through his testing, was able to determine the well is 80 feet deep and produces a healthy 15 - 19 gallons per minute. This is good news. The contamination occurs, however, in the delivery portion of the system. The well head and a large cistern/holding tank are exposed to ground surface water contamination. Roof top holding tanks are also not properly secured. The entire delivery system is further taxed as a result of limited electricity. The power authority only delivers electricity to this poor neighborhood approximately six (6) hours per day.

Ed Hinchey, Connie, Steve and the Committee have designed a delivery system which will include a U.V. filter and a back-up generator. The proposed system will also increase the size of the school roof top tank and secure the well and cistern from contamination.

Our desire is to return on April 14, 2009 to install the new system. This will not only store and deliver clean water to the school children, but will also be available to the entire community of Don Juan.

We urge and request each Club in the District to participate in this most worthwhile project. By participating in this project, your Club will fulfill its requirement for an international service project, a childhood health project and a water project. More important, your Club will help deliver clean water and thereby improve the health and welfare of the 360 school children, their families and their community.

Members of the Committee are available to speak to your Club. To obtain a speaker, please call Jim Gascon at (315) 422-1152. To participate in the program, please appoint a Club contact person and mail $600 to Jim Gascon, c/o: Costello, Cooney & Fearon, PLLC, 205 South Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13202.