Solar Pump Installation (photo Ya'axché)
On the 16th of October 2009, Christopher Nesbit from the Maya Mountain Research Farm installed a solar Submersible water pump for the community of Medina Bank. This water pump was able to pump over 3000 gallons of water per day on full sun. This came in handy for the much needed portable water for the community of Medina Bank.
The objectives of installing this solar water pump are to provide portable water to 38 households in Medina Bank, provide clean water to 63 children at school and later provide clean water to school kitchen, income generation for the Water Board and Village council and later to provide clean water to the organic garden plot in Medina Bank.
Energy to power the water pump comes directly from the sun. There is no need to use diesel or gasoline fuel for power to generate electricity. The generator that powers the water system uses diesel fuel that emits a significant amount carbon into the atmosphere everyday at Medina Bank adding to the effects of Climate Change. This solar pumping water system is reducing the emission of carbon into the atmosphere, therefore allowing the community of Medina Bank to adapt to a more efficient and sustainable Water system.
This idea of using solar water pump came into the picture when Ya’axché began working with 5 members of Medina Bank in setting up a garden plot with the drip irrigation system. At the time Ya’axche had installed a drip irrigation system using a small gasoline water pump. This small project was made possible through the Organization of American State (OAS) funding; however the gasoline water pump was consuming a lot of gasoline fuel that is incurring a lot of expense for the garden plot.
Spring at Medina Bank (photo Ya'axché)
Christopher Nesbit was invited to assess the possibility of setting up a solar water pump for the garden plot in Medina Bank. At the time Medina Bank water system was not working due to damage engine that power the generator. In Medina Bank there is a beautiful water source, a natural underground spring that pushes out clean water all year round. This clean water from the spring is being used by the community for drinking and cooking at home throughout the dry season. Christopher recommends that a solar submersible pump will work very well at the site.
A solar powered submersible pump cost $3000.00Bze and Ya’axché had no funds at the time to purchase this type of pump and also we had no funds to purchase the PV that is required to produce energy for the pump. Christopher Nesbit from the Maya Mountain Research Farm (MMRF) had connections through BP and asks for donation of 4 Photovoltaic to the Medina Bank water system project. His request was successful. He donated 4 PV to Medina Bank; each PV is producing 180 watts at 36 volts. These four PV’s will be able to operate one DC submersible water pump that will pump over 3000 gals of water per day for the community of Medina Bank.
Mrs Cara Huddleston (photo Ya'axché)
At this time Cara Huddleston, a volunteer at the Maya Mountain Research Farm, she too wanted to be part of the project in Medina Bank. Christopher and Ya’axché Community Outreach Officer, Auxebio Sho, had discussion of the project and later ask Auxebio to meet with Mrs. Cara Huddleston at the MMRF. Auxebio arranged a date to meet with Cara at MMRF to discuss more about the project. Auxebio gave Cara a brief history of Ya’axche and its program areas, its goals in conservation and sustainable development for communities like Medina Bank. Cara wanted to help the community of Medina Bank and she pledge to seek funding to purchase the much needed submersible water pump.
Cara went to the US and began asking friends for donations to purchase the water pump that will be used for Medina Bank water system. It took a few months before she could get all the funds necessary for the pump. The pump was purchase in the US and took a few weeks before it finally arrived and delivered by Christopher and Cara at the Ya’axche PG office. The community had the pump and the PV but needed additional funds to purchase the electric wires, PVC pipes and fittings necessary to install the system.
The Village Council and the Water Board of Medina Bank agreed to provide additional funds of $1650.00bze to purchase these items which came to a total cost of $2465.18. The Golden Stream
Items for Solar Water Pump (photo Ya'axché)
Watershed initiative (GSW) provides the additional matching fund of $815.18 to purchase items. Additional tools and materials were purchase for the training that had an additional cost of $113.55bze.
Cost of the Solar water pumping system in Median Bank Village
Four PV donated by Chris Nesbit, each PV have an output of 180 watts at 36 volts Direct Current-10000.00
Solar submersible water pump purchase by Mrs. Cara Huddleston: $3000.00
Additional items for installation purchased by Medina Bank and Ya’axche/GSW: $2638.73
Labour cost for digging & covering trench done by Medina Bank community: $630.00
Training in Installation/transportation done by Chris Nesbit and paid through Ya’axche/OAS: $3000.00
Total: Bze$19,268.70
Spring At Medina Bank (photo Ya'axché)
The water source is from an underground spring at Deep River which pushes out clean water throughout the year. The solar submersible pump is set into spring approximately 6 ft bellow and is attached to a concrete frame above with a rope. The water is transported through 11/4 inch PVC pipes connected from the pump to the storage tank approximately 540 ft away. Electricity from the panels to the pump is through two 6 gauge wires that are 540 feet long; this is the distance between the pump to the Panels and storage tank. The 6 gauge wires are protected by one inch PVC pipes that are set along the water line from the panels to the pump. The solar panels are mounted on four 4 feet posts above ground level for easy installation and maintenance and also for easy removal in case of hurricane storm during the hurricane season.
The water is stored in a 2500 gal’s tank and the overflow is channelled to a concrete storage tank that holds 2000 gallons of water. Water from the storage tank is channelled through primary and secondary PVC lines that are connected to 38 households. On sunny hot days the water pump will pump over 3000 gallons of water per day and will keep the storage tank full throughout the day.
Village Woman Transporting Drinking Water (photo Ya'axché)
The Leaders and community members were excited to see the water system working again, they no longer need to transport water from the spring and up the hill with gallons and buckets. The kids at school have clean drinking water and would be using the water for the garden. No burning of fossil fuel and if the system is monitored and maintain very often it will serve 10 to 20 years.
We greatly appreciate the assistant of Mrs. Cara Huddleston, Christopher Nesbit, and members of Medina Bank community to make this small project successful one of its first kind in the district.
Solar Panels (photo Ya'axché)
Medina Bank is very thankful and happy for the Solar Water Pump.
Community Of Medina Bank (photo Ya'axché)
Ya'axché Conservation Trust Old Blog Site 
sean hackett said
We have also found solar water pumping systems to be extremely effective at providing water for domestic and agricultural applications. Although it seem the solar pump used in the project was overpriced, the Grundfos SQ Flex is one of the best solar pumps available on the market and can easily be purchased for less $$. Reliability is Key and with a solar powered pump system, you can be assured that water will be aviable when its needed.
When you find a company that is foccussed on remote water pumping projects, they can really offer great advice for planning these types of projects and get you a complete system price to budget with.
-Sean Hackett
sean@innovativesolar.com
Ya'axché Communications said
Thanks for the tips. We appreciate you inputs.
We are surely going to look at this.
MikizEcy9 said
Interesting write-up. Many thanks for posting
phaed said
I like this content so much.Thanks.
Christopher said
Sean,
I installed that system.
The pump was bought from the US, and that price included shipping, handling and duty. The solar panels were donated to our NGO, Maya Mountain Research Farm, by BP Solar, on behalf of the community of Medina Bank, and were made available to the community at no cost to them. There are 250 people benefitting from this project.
We are presently using this as a model of developing community water systems in other villages, with panels for Aguacate village having been donated. We need another Grundfos pump. Would innovativesolar.com be interested in donating a pump?
Best wishes,
Christopher