Project Status



Project Type:  Well Rehab

Program: Wells for Burkina Faso

Impact: 451 Served

Project Phase: 
Under Community Care
Initial Installation: Aug 2012

Project Features


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Community Profile

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

At the completion of the well the LWI team stated, "The women danced from the shade tree where they were 100 yards away all the way to the well singing and dancing. It was like a parade of joy and thanksgiving for a restored well. Clean water was available again, and that meant that the women would not have to go to the creek to get dirty water which made everyone sick." 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 $0.50 (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 two kilometers 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 Donatien 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 team had the opportunity to meet with fifty-six year old, farmer, Detole Some, who stated, "We want to thank you very much for the clean water you have made available today. We know you have come to help us because you want us to drink clean water and not dirty water. The well that was broken and repaired today, has filled our hearts with joy. Thank you very much. There was no water in the village and we suffered due to a lack of clean water. Thank you. You have brought us clean water and we are very happy!"

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.

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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.