Bremerton Rotary Water Pump Replacement Project Mulege, Mexico

Host Rotary Partner: Mulege Rotary Club District #4100 Club #23376

International Rotary Partner: Bremerton Rotary Club District #5020 Club #58

In April 2005 four Bremerton Rotarians visited the Mulege Rotary Club in Baja California Sur, Mexico to explore the need for repairs to the city water system and to assist in providing dental care to the local residents. As a result of this visit, those of us with the Bremerton Rotary Club have decided to work with the Mulege Rotary Club on a project to help with several needed city water system improvements. $6,500 has already been raised so that work can begin on the most urgent project needs.

The following document helps to explain why the Bremerton Rotary Club chose to become involved in this project, what took place during the on-site visit in Mulege, what the specific water system needs are, and where we are going from here.

Looking for a Project – Why the Bremerton Rotary Club Chose Mulege

This year the Bremerton Rotary Club decided that one of our goals would be to develop a world community project. We set a number of criteria for this project.
* be sustainable
* be cost effective
* fill a distinct need
* be accountable
* involve a local host Rotary Club
* be accessible
* be able to involve numerous Bremerton Rotarians, hands-on if possible

There were two primary world community service areas that we considered. Mulege was our primary consideration. We chose Mulege for the following reasons:
* "Hands-on" accessibility Bremerton Rotarians
* Mulege Rotary Club as local oversight
* Local (Bremerton) contacts live in Mulege
* Multiple potential projects
* Demonstrated needs are great

About Mulege

Mulege is located on the eastern coast of Mexico’s Baja California. It has a scenic setting near the coast between two hills on the Mulege River. Although the population sign reads 3,111 its current population is nearly 4,500 making it one of the largest cities in Mexico’s Baja California. Although it has it’s own packed earth airstrip, primary access to the city is via Mexico’s Highway 1.

Tourism is one of Mulege’s primary industries. In addition to the 600 year-round foreign residents, tourism brings in another 2,000 foreigners during the peak season. Most tourists visit the Mission Santa Rosalia de Mulege, founded in 1706 and completed in 1766 to serve the Indian population at that time. The building has since been restored and functions as a Catholic church today. The historic state penitentiary is also a popular tourist destination. It was built in 1907 as the only jail without bars. Prisoners could go to work during the day, returning to the prison at night. Escape attempts were rare, but when they did occur the other prisoners would help pursue the escapees to bring them back to jail. The local cave paintings at San Borjita and La Trinidad west of Mulege are harder to get to but contain an impressive and rather unique collection of art by the original inhabitants. The Sierra de Guadalupe near Mulege contains the largest number of prehistoric mural sites in Baja California.

Although tourism is the only real source of revenue for the city, many of the local Mulege residents also participate in the local fishing industry. There is also a modest organic farming industry in the area.

Despite these industries, however, Mulege’s economy is considerably poorer than what we are accustomed to in the United States. Although prices for goods are cheaper, the daily wage for labor is estimated at the equivalent of only about $4.00 US. The result is that, while the people are warm, friendly and helpful, the needs of the people living in this area are significant. This includes both the personal needs of the individual people as well as the needs of the city as a whole.

The needs of the city of Mulege cover a broad range of issues, but can be categorized into health and safety needs, educational needs, and community needs. One of the many health needs of the area is for adequate dental care. To assist in meeting this need, the El Sobrante Rotary Club in California makes an annual dental mission to Mulege to provide much needed dental care. Educationally, Mulege is fortunate to have 3 kindergartens, an elementary school, a high school for grade 9, and a college prep school with a combined enrollment of nearly 400 students. There are still many educational needs involved in keeping these schools running, however, and the Rio Vista Rotary Club in California has been involved in providing school equipment as well as annual support for the Mulege Students Scholarship Fund. Additionally, one of the needs of the community is for repairs and upgrades to the water and sewer systems. Currently there is no Rotary Support outside of Mulege for a water and sewer system project.

About the Mulege Rotary Club

Of course, Mulege also has an active Rotary Club. The Mulege Rotary Club has been serving in its community through health & safety projects, educational projects and other community projects. They are also frequently in the news. Their membership is made up of around 25 individuals, several of whom are foreigners living in the area. The foreigners include James Christopher, an American, who serves as the Rotary President.

Some of the projects completed to date by the Mulege Rotary Club include the following:
Health & Safety Projects:
* Dental & Optical Clinic
* Fire Truck & Ambulance for Volunteer Fire Department
* Police Department Items
* Garbage Truck
* Water Pump #1

Educational Projects:
* Air Conditioning for Schools
* Beds for Boarding Schools
* Scholarships to University
* Building for Preschool
* Supplies for Schools

Community Projects:
* Local Park
* Work on Plaza
* Children’s Christmas Party
* Laundry Machines for Retirement Home
* Baseball Equipment
* Basketball Court Bathrooms
* Baseball Field Fence and Paint
* Van to be used by city for events

In addition to these, the Mulege Rotary Club is currently in the news and on the internet for its part in helping to create a local Rescue Unit to provide assistance to stranded motorists. They are helping to setup a Rescue Station Office, recruit volunteers, and coordinate the donation of money and equipment. Any other projects that the Rotary would be involved in would gain similar press.

The Bremerton Rotary Club Visit to Mulege

On April 22, 2005, four Bremerton Rotarians, along with spouses and one sibling, visited Mulege. The purpose of our visit was to see the water system needs of Mulege first-hand as well as to assist in providing dental care to residents during their stay. The following is an account of our visit.

Thursday, April 22nd
After arriving, the Bremerton Rotary representatives met with James Christopher, the president of the Mulege Rotary Club, and David Rose, the soon to be designated water project leader from the Mulege Rotary. We discussed our desire to assist with a water project and were given a list of projects that had already been researched and prepared for us. Plans were made for how to spend the rest of our time in Mulege.

Friday, April 23rd
The Bremerton Rotarian dentist, Dr. Bill Walgren, and his wife, Sandy, assisted in the local Rotary Medical Clinic starting at 8:30. The rest of the Bremerton Rotarians visited the dental clinic later in the morning, saw the optometry clinic, and observed the dentists in their practice. That evening, the Mulege Rotary Club held a special meeting to accommodate the out of town Rotarian’s schedules. Discussion revolved around the list of water and sewer system projects and the cost estimates for completing them. We also discussed what we termed a soft list of projects and items that the town residents needed. The Mulege Rotary Club was excited that we were there to join with them and looked forward to working together on the projects that we discussed. Dr. Walgren and his wife, Sandy, were invited back for the month of November to continue their work.

Saturday, April 24th
The Bremerton Rotary members met with the Mulege Rotary Club president, the Mulege Rotary Club water project leader, and the city water engineer. We were given a tour by the engineer of the two existing water pumps, the current water collection area, and the sewer pumping system. He described the needs of the town and provided assurances for the oversight and costs of the project.

Sunday, April 25th
The Bremerton Rotarians met with Jim Christopher, the president of the Mulege Rotary Club. David Rose, as the lead for all water related projects, was assigned as our primary contact. Jim said he would assist with local oversight and guaranteeing that the matching grant programs of Rotary would have the appropriate documentation and follow up.

Water System Needs Presented by the City of Mulege

The following water system projects were presented as priority needs by Jose Manuel Reynoso Ramirez, Administrator of the water system for the city of Mulege, to the Mulege Rotary Club. They are listed in order of urgency and include cost estimates.

Water Pump
The city’s water system is split into four sections, each of which can be shut off separately as needed. Two water pumps run four days a week to provide for the city’s water needs and fill the storage tank, although water pressure is poor. Pump 1 was replaced in 1999. Pump 2 has been in service since 1992 and is in need of replacement. The shaft and bearings are worn, the seals are leaking, and the impellor doesn’t always function. Cost estimates to replace the second water pump are listed in US dollars as follows:
* Induction Motor, 50 hp, 220/440 volts, 1865 rpm $2,780.27
* Tension Reducer, 50 hp, 440 volts $1,980.00
* Discharge Head, 6” x 6” $1,239
* Discharge Column, 6” x 10’, bronze couples and stabilizers $1,400
* Pump, 40 liters/second, water lubricated $3,982.50
Subtotal $11,372.50
10% Tax $1,137.25
Total $12,509.75

Sewer Pump
Most of the area homes use septic systems, but the downtown area is served by the city sewer system. After the sewage reaches the gravitational receiving tank it is pumped to an oxidation area approximately four kilometers from the beach. If the system overflows, it is treated with chlorine and dumped into the river. The current sewer pump has been in service since 1984 and is in need of replacement.
* Submersible pump, 220 volts $4,520
Subtotal $4,520
10% Tax $452
Total $4,972

Line Interconnections
The current system is made up of cast iron pipes that are 35 to 40 years old. A new agricultural grade PVC grid is needed.
* Flange, 8” x 8” $284
* Floodgate valve, 8” $628
* 2 Universal joints, 8” $107
* Extremity ear, 8” $136
* 45 PVC pipes, 8” $4275
Subtotal $5430
10% Tax $543
Total $5,973

Transportation
* Used pick-up truck with cab, 500 kg $3,000

Communications Equipment
There is currently no communications mode between the office and the pump station.
* Base for office not yet priced
* 2 Mobile units not yet priced

Security
There is currently no guardhouse for the pump station.
* Security Guardhouse for the pump station not yet priced

Water Tank
The existing 200 cubic meter water tank is located 37 meters above the pump in a storage tank supported by wooden beams across a roof. Because of high summer usage and because the water pumps only run 4 days a week, there is not enough capacity in the water tank to build up any storage.
* Construction of 300 cubic meter water storage tank not yet priced

Funding Issues

There are several issues that prevent Mulege from funding the needed Water System Improvements needed including the following:
* Insufficient Water Income – They are currently charging about a dollar a month now on the water meters, but water pricing still doesn’t generate enough income to support the system.
* Lack of other Revenue – Tourism is the only real source of revenue for the city, and there are only approximately 2,000 foreign tourists during the peak season.
* No Government Funds Available – Each town is responsible for it’s own water system. Local and federal governments will not give money to the city and they cannot float a bond.

Conclusions

As a result of seeing the Mulege water system needs and in keeping with our goals for the year, the Bremerton Rotary Club has chosen to work with the Mulege Rotary club on a water project for the city of Mulege. We will begin with the replacement of the number 2 water pump, as specified on the prioritized list of needs by the administrator of the Mulege city water system. To date we have raised $6,500 towards this water pump replacement project. A matching grant from Rotary International will be requested to assist in completing this project. We will pursue helping with other needs in Mulege as time and resources allow.