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: Oct 2011

Project Features


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Community Profile

Our implementing partner reports...

The water situation in Nyabikiri has been desperate. Mayor Ambrose Rubonera asked us to please help this community because it has absolutely no water. The people of Nyabikiri used to fight with their neighboring village over water because they had to go to that village to collect it. Their neighbors charged them 200RWF (33c) per jerry can for water which is 10 times the normal rate. Those who could not afford such outrageous fees would try to find water at dams like the one pictured for the previous water source. This water is incredibly contaminated and made the people very sick, even when they boiled it. This was especially problematic because this village is very far from the nearest hospital.

This site has a water committee with three people: the village chief, a church representative, and a villager. The water committee has opened a bank account which they hope to use to fund repairs to ensure the long term sustainability of their well. The water committee plans to charge 10RWF (.016c) per jerry can to fund the account. The bank account is encouraged by LWI as a way of ensuring that the communities take ownership of the well and do not grow dependent on LWI or other foreign NGOs for the sustainability of the water delivery. LWI is committed, however, to overseeing the sustainability of this project, having enrolled it into our operations and maintenance program which will visit the site quarterly, make necessary repairs, do preventive maintenance, teaching follow-up health and hygiene, and also performing follow-up disciple-making by way of Bible story telling.

Our sustainability coordinator will also be visiting this site periodically to check on the water committee, assess impact of the water point and hygiene trainings and to strengthen our ties with the local church by meeting with, praying with, and encouraging local pastors and believers.

The LWI Rwanda team had an opportunity to meet with forty-nine year old community member and farmer, Charlie Nabanganyingo, who stated, "The old water source was a swamp with dirty water. This new source is right within the
village with very clean water."

We're just getting started, check back soon!


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!


Sponsors


57 individual donors
Jones Middle School - 7th Grade Science
Immaculate Conception JH Youth Ministry
Tzu Chi Buddhiste Foundation
MAD Homebrew
Calvin Christian Middle School
St. Paul's Sunday School
mscraps.com
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
Carlos E. Haile Middle School
Independent School District 280
St. George Church
Bible Fellowship Assembly