Project Status



Project Type:  Borehole Well and Hand Pump

Program: Wells for Burkina Faso

Impact: 350 Served

Project Phase: 
Under Community Care
Initial Installation: May 2013

Project Features


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Community Profile

Water access in Banere is difficult because this is the only deep well for miles. When this pump goes down, all of the people in this region suffer.

Open defecation is practiced in the community and as a result, families are suffering from malaria, dysentery, diarrhea and severe dehydration among other preventable water-related illnesses. There are 410 families who are dependent on this water source to meet their most immediate water needs including a nearby school located three kilometers outside the community. Most residents do subsistence farming and breed domestic animals for small profits, though most are forced to rely on the entirety of their produce to feed their families.

We replaced the pump head, handle, base, rods, riser main, drop pipe, cylinder and chain. The only issue with installation was the fitting of the pump base. The bolts required multiple adjustments, and there was gapping between the bar plate and concrete slab. We corrected this by adding another rubber gasket.

Not only did the team restore clean water to Banere, but they also brought important information on hygiene and sanitation. They taught about 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 an Oral Rehydration Solution. All of these lessons were taught in a participatory method to help community members discover ways to improve their hygiene and sanitation choices and implement community-driven solutions.

The community assembled a water committee consisting of two men and two women to assist the repair team with the project whenever possible. This water committee is responsible for maintaining the well to the best of their ability.

One church member stated: "This repair gives us courage in our choice to follow Jesus. It helps a lot with our reputation in the village and with the school teachers and school director."

Kounibe Nomda said, "This is the only pump in Banere which can serve us with clean water to drink. The hand-dug wells which are here go dry during the dry season, and then we are obliged to go and drink water out of the creek with the animals which is not clean. May this new material that you have installed today give us clean water for all the people of Banere."

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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!


Contributors

Yakima Foursquare Church