With just one month to go, I am beginning to feel the pressure. Also, I am second guessing myself for the decision not to return to Congo in November as planned. The equipment was not there “as planned”. But there is always something to prevent things from happening “as planned” in Congo. Oh, it’s December now and one month before returning to Congo. It’s the feeling of excitement and anticipation like a child seeing their presents under the Christmas tree.
What’s the big project? In the FIRST HALF, we are going to install Lorentz SmartTaps at two solar water well systems in Kananga. IMA World Health upgraded two diesel powered water well systems located in community health centers to solar power a few years ago. The modern solar powered water well system is ideal in rural Congo communities and villages. Why? One, Congo is a country WITHOUT a national or provincial electrical power grid. In Kananga, in theory, electricity is delivered to a very few residences and businesses every evening from 7pm to 10pm. I say “in theory” because it is NOT delivered at all for months at a time. And I have never known it to be delivered daily for one week. Two, due to a poor transportation infrastructure and lack of a national refinery, diesel and gas is very expensive and distribution is irregular. Therefore, solar power is cheaper and more reliable than using fossil fuels. I use a solar powered battery system for house lighting needs.
The Lorentz SmartTap is an automated water dispensing system using a NFC (Near Field Communication) tag instead of currency as the form of payment. The customer will purchase credit for their tokens as they do now for their cell phones. The customer attaches their tag to the SmartTap dispenser. The SmartTap dispenser reads the tag and determines their credit balance stored on the tag. If credit is available, then the dispenser delivers water to the customer until the tag is removed or the credit is exhausted. The SmartTap system can be programmed to meet the customer’s individual needs. Special needs individuals (widowers, sick, or poor) can be provided free water allowances. Just imagine, a family with a recovering child can be provided safe water to consume or prepare medicines. Water can be provided to these individuals with dignity.
The SmartTap dispenser is the heart of the SmartTap water management system. The SmartTap dispenser ensures the water management system is transparent and accountable. Water sellers will be given the ability to collect money from the and load the PREDEFINED AND STANDARD water credit on the SmartTap tag. Everyone pays the same price for water. And water is only dispensed from the SmartTap with a tag. A person’s tag will identify any special needs allowances granted to them. Water sellers will be given an agreed-to allocation of water credits to sell. Then they can purchase additional water credits from the water manager. Also, the water manager can be given an agreed-to allocation of water credit to sell to the water sellers. All transactions of the customer, water seller, and water manager are captured by the SmartTap water management system. The water management system will provide water well sales data on a near real time basis. The accountability of funds from water sells is crucial to the operation and maintenance of the water system!
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