Laronde, A Nearby Community, Suffers From a Failing Water System

La Plaine has been the primary focus for mission teams over the last year and a half, given our partnership with the local La Plaine Baptist Church and Pastor Asha Laronde. However, many members in the church live in a village just south of La Plaine called Laronde. While La Plaine benefits from the government ran DOWASCO water supply, after the hurricane there were major delays in returning services to households. Laronde was one of the few communities that had running water due to its community pipeline system installed a few decades ago. Many of the pipes and fittings were damaged after the storm, but the community made repairs a priority during that time of need. People came from all over the southeastern part of the island to get fresh drinking water. This was a lifesaver for many. Today, you can tell the pipeline is suffering due to the number of repairs and no formal community oversight to invest in the system. Within the last few months, the community has drawn interest for a new community council to oversee the system and manage community outreach for financial support. However, the pure amount of piping needed for a full replacement may be out of the question unless outside support can be garnered. We are also looking into a partnership with Living Waters of the World for a long-term filtration aspect to improve the quality and reliability of the system. If you are interested in supporting this effort, please reach out to Rob Caldwell or Steve Newton at tndominica@gmail.com. See pics of the current pipeline system below. 

The Laronde community pipeline stretches (approximately 1 mile pipeline system) from a small spring up in the mountains and serves 37 houses down through the valley and hillside.

The hike to the man-made dam is a bit off the beaten path.

A ground seep in the side of the mountain replenishes the water supply. 

A man-made concrete dam allows the water supply to be stored.

A homemade filter blocks large particles from entering the pipeline system.

An old water reservoir is no longer being used due to leaks, but the team feels confident they can reseal and use this site as the primary filtration point for downstream use.

Many of the pipes have been temporarily heated to create makeshift fittings. 

Here the pipe runs down the hill to individual houses.

Many lines into houses have been sealed with very tight wraps to improve water pressure and block leaks.

Example of a fitting where the house lines tie into the main pipeline.

The final downstream descent to the last few houses in the system. Here the pipe goes from 2.5" pipe to 0.5" pvc.