Project Status



Project Type:  Borehole Well and Hand Pump

Program: Wells for Rwanda

Impact: 298 Served

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

Project Features


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Community Profile

Upon completion of the project, our partner in the field reports...

A LWI Rwanda team member commented, "The people of Gasarabwayi were having to walk three (3) kilometers to a swamp for their water. The water they would get would often make them sick and they would spend hours each day collecting it." Families were suffering from cholera, malaria, diarrhea and severe dehydration among other preventable water related illnesses. The LWI Rwanda team was pleased to learn of the community’s use of a covered pit latrine as this will help prevent further spread of disease in the area. During the team’s stay, community members assisted the team with the water project whenever possible. Most community members earn a living by farming and selling what excess produce they have at nearby markets. The nearest school is located 2.5 kilometers away from the community whose students, teachers and administrative personnel all have access to the new, safe water source. Before leaving the community, the team provided community member, Sebazunga Agustine, with a LWI Rwanda contact number in case their well were to fall into disrepair, become subject to vandalism or theft. 

The LWI Rwanda team had an opportunity to meet with forty-three year old community member and farmer, Alphonse Rusumana, who stated, "The old water was from the swamp but now the water is clean compared to the previous one because it’s underground water."

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


106 individual donors
Carrie Schwickardt
Gene East Family
Students at Rodgers Middle School
Lebanon Valley College
Dr. Spearman's Advisee Group
Union Hill Church
George Mason University MSOM 301 group project
HSC Water Project
Evangelical UCC Sunday School
United Way Capital Area
Vergennes Union High School
Southern Hill Baptist
GVSU Lib 100 Group
West End Middle School
Marianopolis College
Microsoft Matching Gifts Program
Eugene and Marilyn Family Foundation
Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.
Margaret Jervis 65th Birthday
Water Is Not Corporate Property