We have finally dug a borehole, we now have water

Since we started building our house more than a year ago, we have been begging for water from our neighbours. We are surrounded by good hearted neighbours who allowed us to connect water directly from their borehole without going through the stress if fetching water daily and carrying it to our compound.

We simply bought a 3000L water tank, bought connecting pipes and connected the water to our tank such that, whenever water is pumped, it goes directly to our tank. It was the sweetest thing that happened to us.

First, we connected it to a building adjacent to ours where our neighbours got theirs by meeting the owner and paying a token for the connection. Then, just 3 months ago, our closest neighbour whose house is at our backyard connected his own borehole to his tank. He had already dugged his own but it was remaining to connect it. Finally he did and we switched to his own. He was so generous that he didn't charge anything from us. Only petrol money in case there is no power supply.

And as the Almighty may have it, just on the 4th of April, we started digging ours.

Preparation For the digging

The engineer was contacted through our neighbour and was highly recommended. He charged NGN350000 (940.86 steem). Then, an advance was given him for the materials purchase.

He was able to buy 13 casings and 7 risers pipes and brought to the house on the 3rd of April. Then on the 4th, he came with his crew to dig the borehole. You can see the pictures I took when they arrived that morning. They were early before I could leave for my ministry.

Arrival of the crew	the mapping of the floor	digging the mapped areas

It was at this stage that I left the house while my husband supervised the work. On arriving in the evening, I saw that they were already done and gone but I was shown the sands that they dug out at each stage. 13 different texture of sands and these different textures of sand shows if the water is pure or not. It gave them directions on where to stop digging. The pictures of the different sand are displayed below

The first stages sand	the following ones	the final one that is stonny

They were fast to have finished before my arrival. I missed the whole gist. They already fixed the 13 casings but not to worry, I was around on the day 2 for the pump installation.

Installing the pump with the rising with I as the helper

On the day 2 when the engineer came to install the pump and the rising, I was there to assist the man. He tied the rope that will suspend the pump as well as the wire that will supply current. I was assisting him to hold the pipe at each joining stage where he also used the tape to hold the wire. I was helping him to fix the pipes and to tighten them.

When he was done, he pumped the water for the first time to be able to get the clean and pure water. It was not long before the clean and clear water started coming out. He tasted the water and it was ok. I drank too. Then he gave instructions on how to seal the pump securely with protector, block work and then key. By this time, my husband was present to call both the welder and the mason.

The sealed borehole	the water after pumping	the second block work	the slab for the cover.

The engineer came again the third day in my absence to add chlorine to treat the water. Then, he brought out the pump with the risers, the rope and the wire and kept out and left.

I came back to meet the pump at home.

Just yesterday, the 12th of April, he came again to fix the pump back. As before, I became the helper again. My husband came in immediately because the man had called him before coming. He helped me take the pictures below where we were fixing the risers.

The pump while the man was fixing it	when we were suspending the pump along with the risers

The man told me husband that I am becoming an engineer by helping out. Haha 😂😂😂😂, well, I don't like looking at work but being part of it. He was very happy with the assistance I rendered.

Then, he pumped the water again to clear it of the chlorine until he was sure that a considerable amount of it had gone out before he tasted the water. But he said that we still need to pump for 3 days before the chlorine will finally clear.

Covering the borehole with the slab	the water is being pumped	still pumping

What is left remaining

👉Well, at this stage, we still need to invite the electrician to connect the borehole to our power supply source so that we can use electric light to pump or even generator from inside.

👉Then, we still need to invite the plumber to come and connect the water to our tank and other water outlets in and outside the house

👉We still need to build a tank stand and carry our tank up so that the water can run as it is supposed and the showers can be used inside the bathroom and other places.

We have made contacts and work will soon start. I will keep you updated as work go on. Just stay tuned to my blog.

I am very excited and grateful that we have finally dug our own borehole. Water is very important at home and having yours come with great joy and sense of accomplishment. All thanks to the Almighty for his blessings.

Cc@pennsif @patjewell
@mesola @irawandedy