Khongor water progress

It's been a while since I've provided an update on the water contamination issue in Khongor, and there has been progress. Since the summer, our ministry has been working together with Texas Baptist Men and Baylor University to provide solutions to the problem, which originated with cyanide from illegal gold mining activities. Since May, we have been paying for clean water to be delivered to the village center on a daily basis (the government couldn't/wouldn't). In the meantime, we have been conducting water usage and health surveys in homes, and performing numerous water testing. We have a master plan to provide water filtration systems, continue water testing, and educate people on proper water usage.

In October, Dr. Rene Massengale, a Biology Ph.D. from Baylor, came back to Khongor for the second time this year. Her objective was to perform as many water tests as possible, and she brought with her a mobile water lab with approximately $50,000 worth of equipment and testing materials. A couple of people from Mongolia's national health ministry even visited the lab, and were very impressed, since they don't have such high-tech equipment. As a frame of reference - in order to test water or soil for cyanide or other chemicals, a sample would have to be sent to UB, and the test would take 1-2 days. Dr. Rene was able to perform the same test in a matter of 2-3 hours.

For about 10 days, a few of our staff and teenage boys became Dr. Rene's lab group. They worked tirelessly, collecting water and soil samples from all the wells and other targeted areas. Together they completed approximately 2,000 individual tests, evaluating not only cyanide, but also heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, nickel, etc. The results were summarized by well, and we held a town hall meeting to explain our findings with the people. Here's a few high points:

• Overall, cyanide levels appear to have dropped to acceptable levels.
• There are a few instances of excessive heavy metals, such as arsenic.
• We located the source of the contamination, an industrial building. Unfortunately, the government-mandated environmental cleanup is insufficient to prevent continued contamination leaching through the ground and into the water table.
• The water treatment plant is broken and ineffective. Raw sewage is bypassing the system and into the leach field, where livestock are grazing.

Currently, we are working on installing water filters directly at the wellheads. Our next step will then be to provide simple bucket filter systems (provided by TBM) to each home. Khongor people and officials have been so grateful to Dr. Rene and our ministry, because we are the only ones giving them real information and trying to help. The Mongolian government performed a few tests, but their information has been sporadic and conflicting, so the Khongor people are confused and worried. It's got national attention, and sadly, Khongor has become known as "toxic," so the people are living with that stigma.

Please pray for us as we continue to seek wisdom in this situation!