Planting a Pump

We have a strong habit in the USA of using tap water for any and everything. Brush your teeth, rinse your mouth, rinse your toothbrush no problem. When in this part of the world, bottled water must be used for EVERYTHING that may come in contact with your mouth. In many hotels bottled water is provided daily; our first hotel even had instructions in the room not to drink the tap water. Not drinking from the tap is easy but brushing teeth using bottled water is a little different. It works at first, but let you mind wander for just a second when the habit to rinse your brush kicks in, Oops! Dysentery dysentery stay away!

Fresh water is truly a commodity here and many people don't have easy access to any running water much less potable water. Returning from the floating village, we went back through the area of rustic homes and noticed children in some of the yards getting water or bathing around manual 'old fashioned' water pumps. The pumps all had large clear signs posted by the pumps with donor names. In this area where the water is far away, dirty and undrinkable, these pumps provide much needed drinking water.

We asked our TukTuk driver about them and he told us of an organization in Duluth, MN, that places pumps in these impoverished areas. He said for $250 they go to an impoverished area, dig a well, place a pump and pour a concrete slab around it. These pumps literally save lives and help whole communities in a way that will change their way of living permanently. We got the contact information for the office in Deluth and are strongly considering donating. Your pump will be clearly marked so you know where your money is going.
The organization is:
Minnesota Veterans for Progress,
Cambodian Water Well Project,
PO Box 3106, Deluth, MN 55803
http://mnvetsforprogress.com