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: Jan 2014

Project Features


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Community Profile

Upon completion of the project, our partner in the field reports...

This site was scouted by the living water staff with the district engineer together with the local leader of the cell. The team choose this site because of the seriousness of this community’s lack of access to a safe water source. Upon the team’s arrival, 764 community members were dependent on various forms of surface water including a spring all located over a kilometer outside the community to meet all of their water needs. (Editor's Note: While this many people may have access on any given day, realistically a single water source can only support a population of 350-500 people.  To learn more, click here.)Because of this, residents were suffering from cholera, malaria, diarrhea and severe dehydration among other preventable water related illnesses. The community has access to pit latrines and with sustained hygiene promotion coupled with access to safe drinking water, this practice should no longer be used and the spread of waterborne illness should rapidly decrease. During the team’s stay, community members assembled a Water Committee who assisted the team for the duration of their stay including; supplying materials, labor, and security. The Water Committee is also responsible for maintaining the well after the team leaves the area.

During the hygiene education, the Living Water 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.

The Living Water Rwanda team had an opportunity to meet with 30 year old community member and farmer, Ntagungira Faustin, who stated, "We have been going down to the valley for water but now this well is near us and we will no longer walk uphill with water. It has always been back breaking to carry a jerican of water uphill."

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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!


Contributors

Research Square LLC
1 individual donor(s)