Rehabilitation Project
According to the people we interviewed in Sumbuya, a safe source of reliable water is the most pressing need for this village of 289 people. Hearing about the two sources of water its people are forced to use makes the reason for this all too clear.
Community members have to choose to use surface water they can find lying around in open pools or attempt to collect water from the community's hand-dug well.
Trader Amara Kamara, shown above, 32, explained why he resorts to surface water even though he knows it is unsafe to consume. "The surface water is the source where I can get water at any time I am in need. Water means life and everything to me. It is sometimes exceedingly difficult to use contaminated water for domestic activities, but the water well across the highway is not sustainable to provide water for the community throughout the year."
Although the well sometimes runs dry in the months without rain, that's not the well's primary issue. The problem is that everyone in the community must cross the region's busiest road to fetch water there every day. The cars and motorbikes on the road do not yield to pedestrians. With this being the case, there have been many accidents and several deaths in recent years.
"A motorbike struck me on the way from the well, crossing the road with a bucket of water on my head," 10-year-old Aminata K. told us. "It was very painful, and I am always afraid to go across the road to fetch water. There is no other drinking water well here besides the water well across the road, that is why I must have to go across the road to fetch water every day."
Aminata (seen above) had to miss several weeks of school while she recovered from the accident, which has left her feeling behind her peers. And still, she must cross the road every day because she and her family need clean water from the well.
"It is not easy for me to cross the road," Aminata explained. "I must wait for people to help me cross the road to fetch water, because the road is always busy with vehicles running at high speed. I do not want to be struck by a motorbike that will pain me again."
Community members in Sumbuya are desperate to find a water solution. Having a new well will give them access to clean, sustainable water. Hopefully, it will also provide them with peace of mind and security, no longer having to cross the busy road in search of water.
What we can do:
New Well
Where we will be drilling is centrally located and will relieve many people of the long journey to fetch water and the challenge of accessing clean water.
Our team will drive over the LS200 mud rotary drill rig and set up camp for a couple of nights. Once the well is drilled to a sufficient water column, it will be cased, developed, and then tested. If these tests are positive, our mechanics will install a new India Mark II pump.
By drilling this borehole, Sumbuya and the surrounding community will be provided with plenty of accessible, clean drinking water.
Training
There will be hygiene and sanitation training sessions offered for three days in a row.
Community members will learn how to make a hands-free handwashing station called the "tippy-tap." We will use these tippy taps for handwashing demonstrations and will also teach about other tools like dish racks and the importance of properly penning in animals. We will highlight the need to keep restrooms clean, among many other topics.
This training will also strengthen a water user committee that will manage and maintain this new well. They will enforce proper behavior and report to us whenever they need our help in solving a serious problem, like a pump breakdown.
