Project Status



Project Type:  Well Rehab

Program: Wells for Burkina Faso

Impact: 397 Served

Project Phase: 
Under Community Care
Initial Installation: Aug 2012

Project Features


Click icons to learn about each feature.



Community Profile

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

When the LWI Burkina Faso team arrived community member were utilizing a river, located one kilometer away from the community to meet all of their water needs. Because of this and the community’s practice of open defecation, families were left suffering from dysentery, malaria, diarrhea and other preventable water related illnesses. During the teams’ a water committee consisting of six men and two women assisted the team with the water project and provided any available materials. The water committee is also responsible for collecting a monthly well maintenance fee of $1.00 (US) per household to help sustain the community's water source. 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. Most of the community members depend on farming and animal husbandry for their livelihood. The nearest school is located one kilometer away from the community and now students, teachers, and administrative personnel all have access to safe, clean drinking water. Before leaving the community the LWI Burkina Faso team provided community Bonimuon Some, 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 Burkina Faso had the opportunity to meet with forty year old, housewife/farmer, Banontier Some, who stated, "Before we had to go to the creek to search for water, and walk up and down to search for a place to draw water. Clean water down the borehole well rested there for 10years broken down while we had to drink water from the creek. Today we have seen water flow from the well again and we want to thank you in a big way! Thank you very much. You had the courage to repair our pump and now water flows out again. Water is our greatest need. May God help you and keep our relationship close so that our future needs can be met. Thank you, thank you from all the people who have gathered here today next to the well. That God would give you a great blessing in the name of Jesus Christ!"

During the hygiene education, the LWI Burkina Faso 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.

We're just getting started, check back soon!


Project Photos


Project Type

Well rehabilitation is one of the most cost effective ways to bring clean, safe water to a community.  Sometimes it involves fixing a broken hand pump, other times it means sealing a hand dug well to prevent it from being contaminated.  These repairs, and often time total replacements, coupled with sanitation and hygiene training make a huge impact in communities.