Project Status



Project Type:  Borehole Well and Hand Pump

Program: Wells for Rwanda

Impact: 500 Served

Project Phase: 
Community Managed
Implementing Partner Monitoring Data Unavailable
Initial Installation: Sep 2011

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Community Profile

Our implementing partner reports from the field...

The people of Ruhuha have had to travel long distances to find water which often makes them sick. Their recovered time and health will be incredibly beneficial to their lives. When the team arrived, community members were utilizing a river located three kilometers away from the community to meet all of their water needs. Because of the community's dependence on this contaminated water source, families were suffering from malaria. The LWI Rwanda team was pleased to learn of the community’s use of a covered pit latrine, as this will help prevent further spread of disease in the area. Most community members sustain their families by farming and during the team's stay, these farmers stopped their work and assisted the LWI Rwanda team with the water project. The nearest school is located two kilometers away from the community whose students, teachers and administrative personnel all have access to the new, safe water source. Before leaving the community, the team provided community member, John Nyabudali, with a LWI Rwanda contact number in case their well were to fall into disrepair, become subject to vandalism or theft.

The LWI Rwanda team had an opportunity to meet with thirty-two year old community member and cattle herder, Thomas Ruchera, who stated, "The old water source was over 7 kilometers away, but the new water source is right here in our village! Thank you."

LWI Rwanda team member, Melchizedek Keoye, taught health and hygiene to 70 villagers in Ruhuha. During the hygiene education, they were quite involved during this training and it was a great success. Melchizedek addressed: Disease transmission, germs, hand washing, proper water saving techniques, how to take proper care of the pump, how to keep the water clean, good and bad hygiene behaviors, disease transmission stories, clean hands and clean hearts and dental hygiene.

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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!


Sponsors


57 individual donors
Walter & Greenay
Aasman Design Ltd.
WIU Athletic Training Student Association
Japanese Weekend School