During construction of the southern embankment, the excavator sunk into muddy earth, and the contractor had to take a week to get it out. Shot of it just after it happened. Three weeks ago.
Pensive child in Balang on a water filter day.
These are photos from several water filter deliveries over the last month.
The pool of fetid water with a board over it was used for drinking.
These little girls were drinking that water. They were having a fun time with us during installation.
They were all very happy to receive this filter. This is a community with low low resources, but they still managed to invest some money into the water filters, which we're using to build "water user groups" relating to the reservoir.
Enormous continuing de-mining operation we have undertaken around the construction of the reservoir. We cannot move any heavy equipment into areas that have not been de-mined.
The CMAC Destroyer. Our partner CMAC (cambodian mine action center) has found 3 anti-tank mines, a few anti-personnel mines and quite a few UXO (unexploded ordinance) in the area. I was on site last week when they detonated one of the anti-tank mines with this machine. It was a sound I will not forget.
This is the detonation-cap used to destroy anti-tank mines which are buried deep enough to avoid metal detectors. This machine literally combs the earth randomly setting off these deadly charges.
The grandmother of Mit-Sen's family, who lives on the embankment and has her entire life. We had to move their house in order to continue construction, and they have been fine with that knowing how much benefit the local community will get from the project.
Mit Sen's Grandaughter and Daughter
The photo of Will, Somet, myself and the villagers is from wednesday when we had a big community meeting on site with over 100 local attendees. The community is investing a huge amount in this project, and we have villagers working with us doing voluntary labor every day.
Local women leaders present at the meeting. We work as closely as possible with local women in leadership roles, and their insight into the community development process is extremely helpful.
Village elder at the meeting, contemplating Trav Kod Reservoir.
This is the southern Embankment, which is now flattened and covered in many compacted layers of clay. We are 27% done with the embankment phase of construction.
Community members at wednesdays meeting, climbing the southern-portion of the embankment we built. This mound of hard-packed earth and clay was not here when I arrived three months ago. It is only one small part of the reservoir, but it gives a good idea of scale. This section is less than 1/3rd of our construction area we are building, and you can see the river to the right snaking its way through the dam-gap, where it broke years ago.
Mister Nouk, who lost his leg less than a kilometer from this site, posing next to the catchment area. He is a vocal supporter of this project.
Soil sampling in the middle of the dam gap. Last month. We had to dig down 2.5 meters (almost 9ft) to get to proper clay.
Little ones interested in becoming engineering students
Venerable Somet pointing out the direction of canal flow in the reservoir.
Children at sunset.
Soil sampling with EWB. Part of their information collection has determined that there will be additional costs associated with construction to ensure the integrity of the project. Our pending phases of construction will be completed only after we have the funds to do so. We are hoping that construction will only take one year.
