Project Status



Project Type:  Borehole Well and Hand Pump

Program: Wells for Rwanda

Impact: 280 Served

Project Phase: 
Community Managed
Implementing Partner Monitoring Data Unavailable
Initial Installation: Jun 2012

Project Features


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Community Profile

Upon completion of the project our implementing partner reported...

A community member told the team "This project is so wonderful to our community because we use to pay a lot of money to buy water, which was unclean. But now this water that is clean and cheap!" When the LWI Rwanda team arrived, community members were utilizing an open river located two kilometers away from the community to meet all of their water needs. Because of this families were left suffering from cholera, typhoid, diarrhea and other preventable water related illnesses. The LWI Rwanda team was pleased to hear that the community utilizes covered latrine pits which will help to prevent further spread of diseases in the area. During the teams stay, a water committee was formed consisting of three men and three women who assisted the team with the water project. This water committee is also responsible for collecting a monthly well maintenance fee of one Rwandan Franc which is roughly $0.0004 US per household to help sustain the community’s water source. The cost per jerry at the well is ten times less than the price people were paying for the treated water that would still make them sick. In keeping with our Strategic Plan launched in January of 2011, LWI’s plan is to train communities to maintain water projects for sustainability. If communities slip back into a situation where they must rely on unimproved water sources, our donors’ investment is compromised. To help prevent this occurrence, Living Water International engages communities to help in planning, managing and monitoring of the rural water supply. The nearest school is located three kilometers away from the community and now students, teachers and administrative personnel all have access to safe, clean water. Before leaving the community, the LWI Rwanda team provided a community member with a LWI contact number in case the well were to fall into disrepair, become subject to vandalism or theft. In an effort to ensure project sustainability, LWI program staff is also responsible for visiting the well site annually.

The LWI Rwanda team had the opportunity to meet with thirty year old farmer, Damacent Nzeyimana, who stated, "This water is so clean when we compare it with our old water! It is also closer, as our old water source was very far from our community."

During the hygiene education, the LWI Rwanda team addresses: Hand washing, how to properly transport and store water, disease transmission and prevention, how to maintain proper care of the pump, as well as signs and symptoms of dehydration and how to make Oral Rehydration Solution. All of these lessons are taught in a participatory method to help community members discover ways to improve their hygiene and sanitation choices, and implement community driven solutions.

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Project Photos


Project Type

Abundant water is often right under our feet! Beneath the Earth’s surface, rivers called aquifers flow through layers of sediment and rock, providing a constant supply of safe water. For borehole wells, we drill deep into the earth, allowing us to access this water which is naturally filtered and protected from sources of contamination at the surface level. First, we decide where to drill by surveying the area and determining where aquifers are likely to sit. To reach the underground water, our drill rigs plunge through meters (sometimes even hundreds of meters!) of soil, silt, rock, and more. Once the drill finds water, we build a well platform and attach a hand pump. If all goes as planned, the community is left with a safe, closed water source providing around five gallons of water per minute! Learn more here!


Sponsors


10 individual donors
Thomas Family
JustGive
Duck Creek Community Church
The Simons Family Foundation