The Water Project - How It Works

A completed shallow well People are suffering needlessly without clean water.

We're working to change that... with your help!

The Water Project funds both the technical assistance and supplies needed for communities to build wells, small dams, rain catchment systems and/or water filters.

What You Do, What We Do, What Everyone will See

Here's the basic process:

You decide that clean water can change a life forever and make a donation.
We find the right partner and water project and if you choose,
we'll even send 100% of your gift to build it .
Clean water flows. Everything Changes.
We show you what you built and who you helped.
We do it all again...

Type of Projects We Support

Different communities, in different locations require various types of water projects to meet their needs. For many, a well is most practical and efficient. For others, rain collection or simple home-based water filters make more sense. Our partners work hard to ensure the right solution for each project is used.

Sanitation & Hygiene Training

Regardless of the water project type, we always work to ensure that proper sanitation and hygiene training are a part of every project. Sanitation is critical to protecting the water source. You can't poop near the water you drink. There are more technical ways of saying that, but they mean the same thing. Rotting garbage, farm runoff, and animals must be kept away as well.

We also require our partners to teach people how and when to wash their hands. Again, it seems simple, but if you've never been taught what can make you sick, it's not so easy. Programs must carefully crafted, respectful and provide a means of follow up. We think that's best done with local teachers and leaders taking charge.

New Water Well Projects

Water wells are often an excellent way to bring clean water to a community. The cost to dig a well, cap it, and install a water pump varies dramatically from one site to the next however. We've seen wells constructed for as little as $1,500(USD) in India and as much as $40,000+ in Kenya.

Why such difference? There are lots of factors. How deep is the water? Is it hard or soft rock? How much water is there? How many people will the project support? Does the water need to be distributed to more convenient taps?

To try and keep things simple, we look to work with well drillers in various countries that keep costs as close to $10 per person for 10 years of water as possible.

Sometimes we'll fund a well for 1,000 people and it'll cost about $10,000. That well would be high producing, likely very deep, and in some cases require diesel powered pumps. In other cases, we'll find a project that serves 500 people for $3,000 - a real "bargain"

Read About Digging Wells

Well Repairs

We love to fund well repairs. These are often the most cost efficient projects we do. When a hand pump has broken down, a well is useless to a community. For often times just pennies per person, we can fund the repair of these pumps, restoring clean water to entire villages. Costs usually run between $500-$800.

Small Dams (Weirs)

Weirs, check dams, or sand dams are effective in storing often intense tropical rainfalls that occur roughly twice a year. During these times, river channels fill with water after rain falls for a few hours or days. The problem is, with no natural barriers the water moves quickly out to the Indian Ocean. Weirs can block and store a large amount of this water without adversely affecting communities downstream. The seepage into the ground also helps to replenish the water table. The community then guards the quality of water by preventing animals from having direct access to the water source.

Read About Small Dams »

Rainwater Catchment

Water Tank Roof Top Also called rain harvesting, these simple systems connect downspouts and other rain catchment systems to a central water tank capable of holding about 100,000 litres or more. Often the issue is not that it never rains, but rather that when it does, most of the runoff is lost. These systems combined, make the best use of what little rain there is.

About Rainwater Harvesting

Filtration

There are an increasing number of simple and very effective technologies for filtering the water that is caught and stored. The simplest is a two-stage sand and charcoal filter. Much like a pool filter does, the sand removes large particles and "gunk" so the charcoal filter, which does the real work of eliminating contaminates, is more efficient. When necessary, chemicals such as chlorine may be needed to further process the water for drinking. Local community leaders are trained to manage the entire system.