My project with Sam

Sam is the guide with whom we have built our first wells and the person responsible for our initial interest in water. He is featured in our first film A Drop In The Bucket. He has built over 400 wells and there are other guides who similarly interest their clients who come to Siem Reap to view the Temples in donating wells to bring water to Villagers who have not ever had such. However, we now know that just digging wells and providing water is only a partial cure to the situation. If these waters are not tested and filtered then one does not know whether the water we westerners have donated in good faith is eliminating the water borne diseases like typhoid and the parasites that cause dysentery. We are now working with NGO's that are leading the way in water testing and providing filters so that we can be assured that modern technology is being applied to provide the Villager with clean water. We know that more than 10% of the wells drilled have ecoli bacteria. So my project is to cross the cultural abyss and work with the guides that I estimate may be responsible for 800 or so wells in the province of Siem Reap, most all of which have never been tested and the water from which is not filtered.

Sam is very highly respected amongst his peers and is looked to by other Khmer for his leadership ability. I met with Sam yesterday and his initial reaction to doing some testing was that 90% are clean and is that not " good enough". These people are used to drinking water from the footprints of water buffalo. Cambodians do not have to use any filtration as they are used to boiling all of their drinking water. Sam has done a great service to his people by getting all of these wells built. I later that day at lunch met a friend of Sam, another guide, who has done 200 wells, none of which have been tested.

Sam and I are going to begin a program to test some of his wells. I also will be hopefully putting together a meeting with other guides to meet with some of the testing people and to also meet with NGO's that build filters. Sam and I will be jointly drafting a letter to his donors to urge them to support this new program of testing . I am hopeful that Sam will soon agree to installing filters on any new well . Paul