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Project Description:
What is the purpose of this project? Describe the project, its location and its objectives.
Background:
Upper Kalskag is a village of approximately 219 people (DCCED certified estimate) located on the north bank of the Kuskokwim River approximately 348 miles west of Anchorage and 99 miles northeast of Bethel.
Drinking water in Upper Kalskag is obtained from individual wells that serve the homes, school, store, government offices, and the clinic. Nearly all homes have indoor plumbing. Most of the wells in the community were drilled at the same time and tap into the same relatively shallow aquifer. The water from these wells is safe but varies in quality. The majority are highly mineralized, containing lots of iron, and are not palatable. The City building and Clinic drinking well has reportedly been drilled significantly deeper and tap into another aquifer which is much more pleasant to drink.
In a meeting with Upper Kalskag community leaders on 11/29/12, it was determined that most of the elders in the community live in the same general area, in a subdivision located adjacent to the Kuskokwim River. Nine elders in that subdivision were identified whose well water is not drinkable due to mineral taste. Many of these elders are unable to haul water from other homes or locations in the community with good quality water. As a result, these elders often tend to go without adequate water to drink. The community leaders also confirmed the water at the City building and Clinic is much better quality and taste.
We have researched and considered several options for assisting these elders with daily access to clean, palatable drinking water. What we believe to be the most viable and cost-effective option makes use of the best quality water sources already available in town and uses time-tested, low-technology techniques which are also low-cost and low-maintenance, hence easily sustainable. We recommend this approach be tested on a small-scale trial basis with this core group of nine elders. We expect there will be valuable lessons-learned by taking this step-wise approach.
Anchorage Gateway Rotary Recommended Project:
Procure and install nine plastic water tanks inside the homes of the nine elders. Place the un-insulated and unheated tanks on a stand against an outside wall and plumb the tank with an exterior gravity fill line penetrating the outside wall and an interior spigot. Procure a small, ATV-trailer-mounted, 100-gallon water tank with a small pressurizing blower pump. Arrange for the 100-gallon tank to be filled on a weekly or bi-weekly basis at one of the better water sources in town by a City employee, volunteer, or family member. The tank is then hooked up to an ATV and used to top-off the nine individual water tanks in the homes of the elders. Attached is a preliminary cost estimate, a catalog cut of materials available from CoWater Alaska in Anchorage which has these systems in use in many locations in Alaska, and a preliminary sketch of a typical layout.
Estimated Project Timeframe is 12 months from start to finish. Estimated completion date is May, 31, 2014.
Project Benefits:
Describe how the project will meet the needs of the community and/or improve the lives of the less fortunate.
In Upper Kalskag, Alaska, many residents have inadequate water supplies. Elders often are compelled to haul their own water from one of the only good water sources in the village. As a result, these elders often go without safe drinking water.
Anchorage Gateway Rotary and The Kuskokwim Corporation are working to provide a solution by equipping elders with personal 50 gallon water tanks to be filled weekly with fresh, clean water for cooking, bathing and drinking.
How will the community be involved and have "ownership" in the project? Please describe meetings, activities and/or other participation by local providers, officials and/or recipients.
Anchorage Gateway Rotary met with the City of Upper Kalskag's Mayor and Council Members and agreed that this project would be most feasible for assisting the elders with their drinking water needs. The City of Upper Kalskag owns the water well that has the best quality water source in town. They have agreed to donate the water, and donate a staff member who will be designated to fill up the 100 gallon portable water well once a month, attach it and utilize a personal or City 4 wheeler, and deliver the water to each of the elders homes once or twice a week. We are currently finalizing this written agreement in case there is any future turn over.
Upper Kalskag is one of TKC's 10 merged village corporation's and understands the logistics and community needs. Since TKC travels often to the region, TKC has agreed that Maver Carey will have direct oversight in working with Anchorage Gateway Rotary. We are finalizing a written agreement with the City of Upper Kalskag for the following:
1. The City will assume ownership, proper maintenance, upkeep and storage of equipment as directed by the manufacturer.
2. The City will provide periodic tank inspections of the elders tanks in their homes once a month for the first 3 months and quarterly thereafter.
The Rotary logo with sponsorship information will be included on both the 100-Gallon haul and 50 gallon in-house water tanks. In addition, banners with the Rotary logo and sponsorship information will be posted at the City office and outside the homes as installation occurs. TKC has agreed to work closely with Anchorage Gateway on putting together a celebration which will be held within the village of Upper Kalskag turning the project over to the City of Upper Kalskag. Residents, Rotarians, elders, students and community members will be invited to the picnic gathering. TKC will donate seats on charters out to Upper Kalskag since they travel on a regular basis and understand that the cost of traveling to rural Alaska could be a large burden on the this type of project.
Rotarian Participation/Involvement:
Maver Carey is the President/CEO of TKC and an Anchorage Gateway Rotarian. She will have direct day to day oversight of the project. Anchorage Gateway Rotary Rural Water Committee, which consists of 3 Anchorage Gateway members, will meet on a monthly basis with Maver Carey to review and oversee the project logistics until completion. They will then determine meeting requirements after the water wells have been installed. Our group will meet once a month with the City of Upper Kalskag to provide project updates.
On December 11, 2012, The Kuskokwim Corporation (TKC) paid for a charter that sent Anchorage Gateway Rotary member Larry Parker out with TKC staff. They met with the elders in the community, obtained water samples and validated the project with the City. TKC and Anchorage Gateway Rotary have agreed to a monthly schedule to communicate with the City and the elders.
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