LIMONAR and SYSTEM NUMBER TWO
DAY 2 (May 26)
After a good nights rest the team arrived downstairs for breakfast. We enjoyed a meal of good Cuban cafe con leche, bread,
sliced ham, egg casserole, and fruit. Late Saturday night we arranged for a ride back to Limonar and we were so glad to a nice
van arrive on time at 9AM. A few team members opted to stay back at the hotel to rest and explore Matanzas. We loaded our
gear and took off got site number two. in Limonar. After a few wrong turns and slight slip into a ditch we arrived at the child care
facility. The local handyman was waiting for us and jokingly complained we were late. It was a rainy. We unloaded and got
right to work. We arranged the pipe fittings, pipe, tools and first aid kit on the floor and got to work. The first task was to turn off
the water and test our new valve the handyman machined for us with 1inch inside and 3/4inch outside threads. After a little
restoration on the existing compression fitting we had a water tight fitting that we could connect to. Then we split into small teams
and got started on the electric, the filters, the UV system and the plumbing. Our handyman installed an extension cord bringin a 110v to the project and
added an extra cord and worklight.
UV ASSEMBLY
The day before Gwynn lead the assembly of the first UV system. Among her lessons learned were: removing the pastic protector, connecting read and
green
wires and how to installing the sleeve using the new single o-ring method. Once you do it the system is pretty straight forward to understand. Cordella
lead
the UV system assembly for system 2.
WATER FILTERS
The day before Terry lead the assembly of the first filters. Among his leesons learned were: removing the plastic from the filter cartridges, connecting the
two
filter housings using white PVC threaded fittings tightened all-the-way with tephlon tape and then Cordella labeled the housings after they were installed
(5m, 1m).
ELECTRIC
Ted, Terry and Rick were on the electric team. They spent more time than planned trying to find a good 110v connection. They first tried tapping into an
outlet on the ceiling but the voltage wasn't steady, fluctuating from 90v to 200v. Not a good connection to use. It turned out being a 220v circuit. They
decided to drop a new line and connected it directly to the main breaker box. They tested a few lugs, did some house keeping cleaning up the box and
tapped into the overhead light circuit wiring in a new GFI outlet inside the closet with a surge protector. The big test came when they plugged in the 110v
light and it worked!
PLUMBING
Bill, Ted, Jerry, Yamil and Dad were on the plumbing team. While everything else was underway the plumbing team had the task of reconfiguring the pre-
glued pipe and valves to fit our new right to left configuration. As it all came together the filters, the pressure gauges, the UV system, the controller and the
GPF outlet were all installed in the closet. As a bonus, they were able to position the final faucet over the exiting drain. They slowly pressureized the
system
and it held all but a tiny drop from the filter connection which was tightended and tephloned. we explained how the system worked, demonstrated how
to
change the filters and UV bulb. Then we gave instructions on how to test the waster leaving them a water test kit with 10 months of supplies to perform
and
record monthly tests. After we flushed the system we took a first drink and high fived the success of system number 2. They system looked good and is
positioned to allow them to reconfigure it next visit when we will install an exterior faucet over a new sink they will install in preparation for our return. OUr
handyman being involved in the install is now the local expert and is equiped to maitain the system. We left them an instruction book in spanish and
recommended they contact the First Baptist Church in Matanazas is they have any trouble becuause they have 5 years experience maintaing their system
and they are close by. The team loaded the van, said good byes and returned to the hotel by 2PM where the bus was waiting to take everyone to Havana.
HAVANA
Our hired bus took us from Matanzas to Havana. It was a relaxing and exciting ride. At first there was a bit of disappointment not being able to stop to see
the beach in Varadero. Varadero has one of the top 10 beaches in the world according to Trip Advisor. We rode along the coast, passed over the
Bacunayagua, the highest bridge in Cuba and then took a break at rest area / gift shop famous for piña coladas.
The road twisted along the coast where passed small harbors and coastal towns. Yamil and Dami started to get very excited as we passed through the
tunnel at Havana Harbor which takes us up into Old Havana on the other side. Welcome to Havana, they were so excited seeing there home town for the
first time in 20 years. We passed by El Morro the 15th century fort, passed old Havana and then along El Malicon the famous raod along the Havana
waterfront. We turned up El Paseo and arrived at our hotel, Casa Sacerdotal, about 5 blocks from the water in a quiet neighborhood. We unloaded, check-in, took a 15 minute break to get freshened up and then we all stepped up into the next bus which was waiting to take us to our 3rd project site in Luyano. It was about a 15 minute drive and we arrived at the Episcopal Church of the Ressurection in Luyano where Father Ivan and Emanuel were expecting us. We wanted to take a look to understand where we would be working the next day. We took measurements, assessed options, inventoried parts we would need and strategized how to install the system . We made plans to return at 11:30AM the next day after the Sunday service. A man who is the president of a neighborhood group that raises money for neighborhood projects and runs several groups came to welcome us. He even has a program that focuses on water and hygiene. He was very happy for the work we were about to do. Father Ivan said a prayer for all of us and for the success of our work. We said goodbyes and returned to our hotel in time to get dinner across the street from Casa Sacerdotal. It was a very nice house restaurant run by a chef from Venezuela and has a Cuban wife. He accommodated every request and took pride in the fresh organic food he serves. We were welcomed like family into the house. After everyone was full we walked back to our rooms and called it a day.