northeast Brazil. The windmill inthe background provided water to the community until itbroke down about one year ago.5Then, survival water was brought to communityby tanker trucks.In this experiment, a Sunmotor SUB500submersible motor fitted to a multi-stage centrifugalpump manufactured by Dancor S.A. of Rio deJaneiro, powered by nine 75 watt solar moduleswired 3 series x 3 parallel, is used to deliver some2600 litres per hour at a pumping height of about 36metres. For the reverse osmosis unit, a Procon rotaryvane pump model 2507, powered by a 1.5 h.p. 90volt, 1800 rpm dc motor connected to 18 x 75 wattsolar modules wired 6 series x 3 parallel is used todeliver 15 litres per minute at a pressure of 170 psi,as required for the efficient operation of the ROmembrane. The system will operate for a minimumof six hours per day under clear conditions, easilyachieving the target output of 1000 litres per day ofpotable water.The station was inaugurated on November 26,2001 by the President of CIDA, Len Good, in thepresence of representatives of all the Canadian andBrazilian partners in the project, the local governmentauthorities and the entire community. It is hoped thatthe station will be used as a model to be replicated inhundreds of communities throughout the northeast ofBrazil that could benefit from this technology. Theexperiment is also drawing a great deal of attentionat CIDA, and in March 2002, the station was visitedby the Minister of International Cooperation, theHonourable Susan Whelan.The use of solar power has a great deal ofroom for expansion in water and energy deficientnortheast Brazil, and Canadian technology andexpertise can be part of this expansion. The NortheasternBrazil Groundwater Project is looking atother applications of solar power, including inirrigation and long distance water transport.CIDA President Len Good surrounded by representativesof project partners and community residents in front ofthe PV array at the inauguration in the state of Ceara.Local resident fetching good quality water at the newlyinstalled solar pumping and desalinization station.75 watt PV modulesused to operate thepumping equipmentgc.ca/index.html>AcknowledgementsWe would like to express our special thanks to Eric Jensen,President of Sunmotor International Ltd., and FabioPeixoto Cavalcante of SOHIDRA, a branch of the WaterResources Secretariat of the state of Ceara, for providingthe technical expertise for this project. SOHIDRA is alsothanked for contributing the reverse osmosis desalinizationequipment, the water tanks, and all the excellent onsiteinfrastructure. Oderson de Sousa Filho of ServicoGeologico do Brazil (CPRM), NRCans principal partnerin the Northeastern Brazil Groundwater Project, isthanked for his invaluable assistance with the variousaspects of the logistics. Rita Eugenia Martins Santiago,the Projects social program coordinator in Ceara, workedwith the Prefect of the Municipality of Iraucuba, EvaldoGomes Bastos and with the entire community ofLivramento to provide the very important social servicesfor this project. Finally, we are indebted to BobAnderson, CIDAs Vice-President for the Americas, andall the CIDA personnel involved in the Americas Program,for their continuous support for the Northeastern BrazilGroundwater Project