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Well No. 9

Agricultural Technical Center

in Quinta Linea

 Sponsor - First Presbyterian Church of Hilton Head, SC

The Methodist Agricultural Technical Center is the fruit of the Agrimissions Ministry, a part of the Global Resource Team of the Mission Society.  The vision of the organization is reaching the world for Christ while meeting needs for daily bread.  The Center is located near the Quinta Linea Methodist Church, which is in the North District of the Methodist Church of Paraguay.  The pastors and members of the churches in this predominantly rural district are almost all farmers, and will benefit greatly from the Agrimissions Ministry.

The Agrimissions facility will have the capacity to house up to 24 students and teachers, as well as staff.   Since there is no public water supply in the region, an adequate, dependable water source is very important.  The Agua de Vida Ministry drilled a well for the facility, constructed a water tank and plumbing for the site.

The drilling of this well went "by the book".  After having a lot of difficulties on the last 4 wells, we were certainly glad to have one without problems.  Our only hiccup was when we first started drilling.  We were down only 7 or 8 feet and all of a sudden ALL the drilling mud disappeared down the hole.  We have had problems with lost circulation before, but never like this.  The mud pump was going wide open - about 100 gpm, and all the fluid was disappearing.  We shut things down fast, but not before loosing about $50 of bentonite additive in the fluid.  We decided to move the rig to the other side of the mud pit - about 10 feet, and were able to drill without any problem.  After a lot of speculation it was decided that we must have hit an armadillo tunnel or a series of leaf cutter ant tunnels. 

Once we got the well drilled, we purged it with compressed air, and were getting very good return.  After only a couple days the water was running clear and we set the pump.  We did have a little problem with the pump getting locked up with fine sand, but we got that problem solved and we now have a system that works great with good flow.

As with most of our systems, we installed a stand tank for water storage and pressure.  The electricity in the area is notorious for going off, and it is nice to have the reserve of water available.  Due to the large number of students that will be using the facility, we installed a 2,000 liter tank rather than our normal 1,000 liter.  We placed water spigots around the site, as well as one in front of the facility for public use.  One of the neighbors was filling her bucket within an hour of the spigot being installed!  We also installed a clothes washing sink for the lady next door who sold the land to the Church and whose family serves as caretakers.

Once again we have been able to help the people of Paraguay with the gift of abundant, clean water.  However, this project will doubly bless the people of Paraguay because it serves a Technical Center which will teach them new and improved agricultural techniques.  To God be the Glory!

 Technical Details

Sponsor:    First Presbyterian Church of Hilton Head, SC

Drilling date: August 11-14, 2004

Location:   Latitude -  S 24°26.382'     Longitude - W 56° 07.957' 

                    300 meters west of Quinta Linea Methodist Church (well no. 3)

Elevation:     232 meters above sea level

Total cost:    $ 2,299

Drill depth:    49.3 meters (162 ft.)

Soil types encountered:   Sand and clay, with soft to medium hard sandstone at depth

Static groundwater level:     13.2  meters below ground surface

Dynamic groundwater level:    18.2  meters

Installed well depth:  49.3 meters

Length of screened section:   18 meters

Length of gravel packed section:  31 meters

Length and type of sealed section:  Approx. 1 meter of bentonite pellets

Pump description:    1 hp mono-phase electric submersible

Depth to base of pump:   28 meters

Flow rate:    1,700  liters/hour

Water analysis results: Not yet tested

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