Ministerio Agua de Vida

The Chacocente Project was started by Cheryl Avery in 2003 in response to the pressing need that she and a group of youth saw as they visited the Managua, Nicaragua trash dump. After witnessing how the families that lived there made their living picking through the garbage, she decided to do something to help. Cheryl stated on the Chacocente web site: “Once I started seeking an answer, the Lord gave me a vision of what this project would look like. It broke every rule in the book about community development, yet the vision gave me a peace and confidence that anything was possible.”

Cheryl Avery, Founder of Project Chaocente

Welcome sign at the entrance

We were asked by Dr. Larry Gage to assist in determining if the well that serves the homes and the school at the Chacocenter Project has sufficient capacity to serve the homes in the surrounding community. Dr. Gage and his wife Robyn serve on the Board of Directors of Project Chacocente (Robyn as the President). Larry and Ed visited Chococente to check out the well and to discuss the options for expanding the water system.

Outdoor cook stove at one of the houses

Typical latrine

We were met at the site by Gabriel Godinez - In-Country Director, Omar Hernandez - Delegation Coordinator, and Juan Carlos - Family Coordinator. From their information, it was estimated that the well at the Center yields about 30 gallons/minute, but this flow rate varies about 5 gpm between the dry season and the rainy season. They also stated that the 2 tanks (5,000 liter total capacity) are filled once per day, taking about 45 minutes, and that this is sufficient water for the 8 houses and the school.

Water tanks that serve the homes and the school

Free flowing discharge from the well

The proposed expansion plan is to provide water to about 35 homes in the community that is in the vicinity of the Chacocente Center. We discussed serveral options, but the one that seemed the best is to provide a dedicated pipline from the well to a seperate elevated tank (or possibly 2 tanks like those at the center) and fill these daily for use by the community. Gabriel and Omar provided Ed with the detailed information from the original well driller and pump installer which indicates that the plan should be feasible. The additional data that is needed is the amount of water level drawdown experienced in the well when it is being pumped. Gabriel and Omar are working to provide this information

Once it is determined that the well does indeed have the capacity to serve the neighboring community, the next step is project implementation. We will post further advances and PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS PROJECT!! Sharing the Living Water from the Center with the community is a wonderful testimony of the love of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Technical Details

Project date: January 19, 2015

Location: Latitude - N 12° 04’ 0.4” Longitude - W 86° 04’ 48.5” (existing well)

Elevation: 552 ft. above sea level (existing well)

Project Cost: To be determined

Type of project: Future expansion of the existing water distribution system

People served: Approximately 35 additional families