Project Status



Project Type:  Borehole Well and Hand Pump

Program: Wells for Rwanda

Impact: 408 Served

Project Phase: 
Community Managed
Implementing Partner Monitoring Data Unavailable
Initial Installation: Jun 2012

Project Features


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Community Profile

Upon completion of the project, our implementing partner reported from the field...

This well was drilled after consulting with the local professional in charge of water and environment in Kirehe District, Sylvain Mutabaruka. He guided Living Water to this site and he told the LWI Rwanda team the well will be maintained by district technicians after its 1-year warranty by LWI. LWI's operations and maintenance teams will make routine visits to this well to ensure it is kept functional and continues to be a blessing to the people of Rurama. When the team arrived, community members were utilizing a river located .1 of a kilometer away from the community to meet all of their water needs. Because of this, families were suffering from malaria, diarrhea and severe dehydration. During the team’s stay, community members assembled a water committee consisting of two men and two women who assisted the team with the water project whenever possible and provided any materials they had available. Most community members earn a living by farming and selling what excess produce they have at nearby markets. 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, Sylvain Mutabaruka, 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 forty-two year old community member and farmer, Schedrack Bazibaza, who stated, "I believe we now have one of the most important forms of disease prevention in our community. It is a great opportunity for us as villagers."

During the hygiene education, the LWI Rwanda 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 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!