“We are finally finished drilling the well in Muresuk village and let me tell you it was one of the toughest wells we have drilled yet!  We actually drilled two different holes.  On the first attempt, we drilled all the way down to 100m (328ft) and only found a small amount of water.  The amount of water was so small it didn’t keep the dust down as we drilled further.

For the second attempt, we moved down hill (and further from the village) and closer to the stream in the valley.  We drilled down to 50 meters and founds more water although at a much lower yield than we usually get.  There is definitely enough water for the current population though and even if the population triples, there is enough as long as they are responsible with the water.

As we were drilling the second attempt, the village elders were sitting around looking very worried.  I went to them and asked them if they were OK and they told me they were talking about moving the entire village if the second attempt failed also.  Thankfully, they won’t have to do that now.

On behalf of the village of Muresuk and WHI I want to thank you for you providing clean water to this suffering village.  How many lives were saved, how many productivity hours gained, and how much sickness avoided only God knows.  What I know for sure is that the village of Muresuk will never be the same and that its residents will remember you and be grateful for as long as they live.”

We’ll have a final update prepared when the next set of pictures arrive from the well dedication.  In the meantime, here are some photos of the pump being installed.

See the project details and picture of the well here »

The well is located about 19km from Kakamega in Western Kenya.  It is one of a cluster of wells we continue to build at schools in the area.

Lat. 0.28712 E – Long. 34.75619 N  (confirmation pending)

The project is being overseen by a local water committee of 4 women and 3 men.  They are responsible for the management and maintenance of the well.  The committee mobilized the community and helped raise the initial $300USD needed to complete the geological surveys and permit process.  This local investment of time and money brings ownership to the project.  It helps ensure the well project will be maintained over the long-term, providing a sustainable water solution.

The school leaders have been instructed how to keep the area around the well safe from contamination and will receive follow-up training in sanitation and hygiene later this Fall.

Previously, the students gathered water from over 2.5km away at a passing stream.

Our implementing team said… “We interviewed the school ‘Head Teacher’ and a student.  They both said that their new water source is going to provide clean and safe water which they know will be  reliable.  They also said that the issues such as Cholera and Dysentry caused by their previous water source…they’ve given them a bye.’”

This well presented many challenges during construction which led to extensive delays in getting water to flow.  After the original borehole was drilled, one section of casing was apparently not properly seated.  This caused the well, over the following weeks, to back-fill with sand and gravel pack.  Our team returned to the site and had no choice but to remove the casing and drill out the hole again.  It’s part of this work.  Sometimes things don’t go as planned.  Having a local drill team however, meant we could get back to the well and fix it in weeks, not months or years.

This well was funded in February 2009 by:

Friendship Missionary Baptist Church – Pontiac, MI

The Completed Well

A new well is now under construction complete in the community of Sokone in Western Kenya.  This well will serve the community of about 600 people and a local school.

Lat. 0.28694 N – Long. 34.63308 E

Sokone is about 20km from Kakamega in the Central Butsatso Area.   Previously, the community fetched water from a stream about 2km away.  It, like most streams, is unprotected and shared by livestock.  The water is not safe.

The community has mobilized a water committee of 2 men and 5 women who together with the village have collected the $300USD needed for the initial surveys and permits.

In the video here, a woman from the community demonstrates what fetching water is was like for hundreds of women in this community.

This well is being funded by:

Individual Donors:

June 8th – 28th, 2009

Wiese Planning – St. Louis, MO
St. Matthias High School – Downey, CA
St. Thomas Aquinas School – Monterey Park, CA
Elgin Academy – Elgin, IL
Mira Loma H.S. Recycling Club – Sacramento, CA
Morey Middle School – Denver, CO
Delta Sigma Theta
Fort Washington Alumni Chapter – Temple Hills, MD

[xmlgm {http://thewaterproject.org/kmz/vashele.kmz} zoom=18]

A new well has just been completed at the St. Thomas ACK Church in Lunza.  This well is located about 30 km from Kakamega, Kenya.

Lat. 00.22883⁰N  034.54129⁰E

The well serves the 520 church members in addition to the entire surrounding community.  The church is a convenient and publicly accessible location for this well.

In the video, you’ll meet Mildred, a mother of triplets who today is benefiting from this new, clean and safe source of drinking water.

A water committee of 4 men and 5 women oversee the project and will help ensure its long-term sustainability.

Prior to the well being installed, members of this community walked at least 2km to a passing stream nearby where the water was neither clean or safe.

This well was funded by:

Individual Donations:  May 14th, 2009 – June 6th, 2009
Berryville High School – Berryville, AR
Oregon Episcopal School – Portland, OR

[xmlgm {http://thewaterproject.org/kmz/lunza.kmz} zoom=18]

Water, fun...hope.

The well project at Vashele Primary School is now complete.  It is located in Western Kenya, near Kakamega.

Lat. 00.49937⁰N Long. 034.75463⁰E

The school is home to 632 students and the well will serve them and the surrounding community.  A local water committee of 6 men and 3 women is in place to manage the project long-term.

The well was funded by an anonymous donor to  our “Change Christmas 2008″ Campaign.   After a long delay, we’re happy to finally show the results of their generosity.

[xmlgm {http://thewaterproject.org/kmz/vashele.kmz} zoom=18]

Lat: 0.30648 N  Long: 34.28882 E

People Served: 700

The drilling failed twice as the crew encountered hard rock. On the third attempt they were able to break through and reach deep enough for clean, safe water. An Afri-dev hand-pump was installed and water flow was measured at 40 liters/min.

The community leader said,

“The response was positive and encouraging. The members through their committee promised to take good care of their new current water source. They also prayed for the blessings to those who donated towards its construction.”

Previously this community drank from a dirty, un-protected stream about 3km away.  A community member noted that the former water source “caused water borne diseases such as diarrhoea and Dysentery plus coughs.”

Today a water committee of 5 men and 7 women oversee the new well, making sure it will serve this community for many years to come.

This well is being funded by:

Indian Hill Church – Cincinnati, OH

This well was funded by:

Individual Donors: Gift Date Between 4/17/2009 – 5/09/2009

Brennen Elementary – Columbia, SC
Park Street School – Boston, MA
Gilbert Community School District – Gilbert, IA

This community is located in the Eshisiru Central sub-location in Western Kenya, about 18km from Kakamega.

GPS — LAT:00.21677⁰N  LONG: 034.73043⁰E

The water project located at this nursery school will serve well over 1,000 people, both at the school and from the surrounding area.  A water committee consisting of 3 men and 7 women has been formed and the community had contributed about $300USD to acquire surveys and permits for the new well.

The former water source was a passing stream nearly 3km away.  It was unclean and unsafe.

The project leader noted…

“The response was so encouraging, positive and the well issue seemed to have reclaimed the lives of both the nursery school children and the community dwellers. The community members promised to form prayer groups to be praying for those who donated towards this well.”

[xmlgm {http://thewaterproject.org/kmz/ebuhayi.kmz} zoom=18]

Updated: Sept. 14th, 2009

A new well is now under construction complete at the Kimangeti Secondary School.

This community is located in the Kabras West Location in Western Kenya, about 34km from Kakamega.

GPS — LAT:00.46525⁰N  LONG: 34.88549⁰E

The water project at this very large school will serves about 1,520 students and a total of 1,800 people in the surrounding area.  A water committee consisting of 9 men and 3 women has been formed and the community has contributed about $300USD to acquire surveys and permits for the new well.

The current former water source was an unprotected and collapsing hand dug well that was inadequate and of poor water quality due to its age.

This new well is being funded by:

Mats H. – Sweden
Faith Lutheran Church – Rochester, NY

[xmlgm {http://thewaterproject.org/kmz/kimangeti.kmz} zoom=18]

This community is located in the Shiunzu Sub. Location in Western Kenya, about 14km Kakamega.

GPS — LAT:00.29431⁰N  LONG: 34.67023⁰E

The water project will serve a total of 653 (corrected 8/10) people in the surrounding area.  A water committee consisting of 5 men and 4 women has been formed and the community has contributed about $300USD to acquire surveys and permits for the new well.

The current water source is a passing stream about 5 km from the community.  The water quality is poor.

* # of beneficiaries updated after a house to house survey was completed

This well is being funded by:
Pope John Paul II High School- Slidell, LA