Rehabilitation Project
Upon completion of the project, our partner in the field reports...
Community Details
The well rehabilitated by the Living Water Burkina Faso team had been broken for the past 8 years. It was first constructed in 2003 and fell into disrepair 3 years after - remaining idle until now! After removing the old rusty materials from the well, the team used an electric submersible pump to clean the well before installing the new stainless steel materials. The only difficulty with this project was that the pump base bolt bracket had to be replaced. The team broke-out the concrete surrounding the well casing and re-cemented a new pump base bolt bracket to successfully repair the pump base. The team pumped water from the rehabilitated water source for 30 minutes before the turbidity resided. After an hour and fifteen minutes the water pumped clear, was measured for total dissolved solvents and confirmed potable!
Safe water has now been restored to 140 families in Sorindigui! There is a generation residing here who has known safe water and who has known and felt the gravity of its loss and a generation who has access to safe drinking water for the first time! During the implementation of the water project the community established a water committee consisting of 4 men and 2 women who, among others, helped with the water project when possible, supplied materials available and who are committed to maintaining the well and managing its water resources after the team leaves the area.
A village meeting was held with the village chief, the village councilor, the president of the village community development, and the president of the water user committee. In their language the meaning behind Sorindigui is that the first inhabitants in the area died on the other side of the river, so the people crossed over the river to live. It is there belief that residing on the current side of the river will prevent their children from dying. That's why they call this place Otom. Otom is 3 quartiers of which Sorindigui is one. The community of Sorindigui is engaged for the protection of the pump and the activities concerning the wall enclosure, the maintenance of the pump and the money collection to buy new parts through the local water well committee, which is already in place. The community agreed to make concrete repairs to the well platform and wall enclosure, clean up the well site, improve sanitation, mobilize the people to participate and give their contribution to the future repairs, and to protect the condition of the pump.
Hygiene Promotion
During the hygiene education, the team addressed with 131 participants including 30 men, 43 women and 58 children: Disease transmission, germs, hand washing, proper techniques and water saving methods, good-bad hygiene behaviors, proper care of the pump and keeping the water clean. 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 want to thank you for this project and its team. The hygiene coordinator that you sent to conduct over this well site showed us very well how to maintain the pump so that it will give us clean water and the proper hygiene that will permit us to escape many illnesses and disease!" – Hygiene Promotion participant
Community Member Interview
The team met with 70-year-old village chief, Holire, who commented, "The problem of water here in the village was always crucial. But with this rehabilitation it has diminished. I want to thank all those who have put their hands into this project. I ask also that the people of the village take good care of the things we have received thanks to God."
