Project Status



Project Type:  Borehole Well and Hand Pump

Program: Wells for Rwanda

Impact: 350 Served

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

Project Features


Click icons to learn about each feature.



Community Profile

Our implementing partner reports...

The well site at Akabingu (Kiziguru Secondary School) was chosen to receive a well in a collaborative effort between our sustainability coordinator, Arthur Kaneza, and the mayor of of Gatsibo District, Ambrose Rubonera. The mayor highlighted Kiziguru Secondary School in Akabingu as a high priority for water and so LWI approached the school administrators with the possibility of a well. The school was overjoyed. The school had to hire a truck to fetch water every day at great expense, and they were forced to charge the students extra on their school fees for this service. We were also told that students and other members of the community were often afflicted with worms and dysentery as a result of drinking the water from the protected spring 2km away. These sicknesses are most prevalent during the rainy seasons (September to May) as surface water (from rain) often contaminates springs.

Another reason this site was chosen is that, being on school property, there is a governance structure already in place to care for the well. The school has now built care for this well into their budget and is hoping to upgrade this well to an electric submersible pump when the funding becomes available. That funding will come not just from the school but from the local community and local government as well, who will also benefit from the increased capacity of an electric pump. It is always good to see communities take a financial interest in the delivery of their water supply.

In the meantime, this hand pump will provide approximately 350 jerry cans of water each day, effectively serving about 350 people by providing about 7,000 liters of water per day.

This pump has been inducted into our operations and maintenance program which will visit the pump quarterly, making any necessary repairs, doing follow-up health and hygiene training and follow-up evangelism. Our sustainability coordinator will also be following up with the water committee at the school to ensure that this pump is well cared for.

The hygiene training provided to the students is in tandem with the health curriculum being taught in the secondary schools in Rwanda on proper health, hygiene, and sanitation. Our training complements this curriculum and serves to reinforce what the students are learning in school.

The LWI Rwanda team had an opportunity to meet with forty-seven year old community member and teacher, Celestin Rwigamba, who stated, "The old water source had dirty water and the new source has clean water. Our students will be healthier now and able to attend classes regularly. Thank you God!"

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


1 individual donors
British School of Boston LLC
Boulder High School Peace Jam
Warkworth Community
Center Grove Middle School Central
Mauro Repacci's Fundraising Page