In the Makanoh Community, there are 150 residents who struggle to access sufficient water. Their well runs dry for several months a year, leaving them no option but to collect swamp water to meet their daily needs.
The swamp.
Field Officer Phillip James Allieu described the situation: "The community members have [a] water crisis on a daily basis. The reason [for the] water crisis is the seasonality of the main water source, [a] protected dug well with [a] hand pump, and the frequent pump breakdowns on the well. These are the two major reasons [for] the shortage in water in this community, especially during the dry season."
He continued: "Consequently, the water crisis also affects the daily activities of most families. The three main affected areas are cooking, bathing, and laundering. Most family members will find it particularly challenging to use water to do these tasks since the main water source of [the] protected dug well with the hand pump gets dry. This really deprives them [of] fetching enough water."
The well to rehabilitate.
The swamp also presents problems.
"The major challenge of fetching water from the swamp is the long distance and the overcrowding that is also the cause of filthy water from the swamp well. This prevents them from doing more than two roundtrips [for] water from the swamp," Field Officer Allieu continued.
The water crisis touches everyone. Thirteen-year-old Salamatu bears the burden every day.
Salamatu carrying water home.
"I fetch water to my house in the morning before school. After I have fetched water for domestic use in the morning, I also fetch water to bathe before going to school. The water well is not always providing enough water. The well gets overcrowded when the people from other villages come to fetch water from our water well," she shared.
Collecting water from the swamp.
"It is also not easy for me to fetch water from the swamp because of the long distance. Sometimes, I had to bathe at the swamp and carry water before I could dress to go to school. When the water well is not in use, it would be exceedingly difficult to fetch clean drinking water from the swamp. There would be people waiting to fetch water, and the water becomes filthy easily. I carry my dirty clothes to the swamp to launder after school. I had to go with my friends because I cannot go there alone. The swamp area is not safe because there are snakes in the area," shared Salamatu.
Rehabilitating the well will give Salamatu and her community the reliable water source they need that won't steal their time or peace. When their well is fully functional all year round, they won't have to rely on swamp water anymore.
Salamatu.
"The water well is the best to fetch water, [but] only if it is working well. It is near to my house, and I can easily fetch enough water to my house from this well," Salamatu concluded.
Steps Toward a Solution
Our technical experts worked with the local community to identify the most effective solution to their water crisis. They decided to drill a borehole well, construct a platform for the well, and attach a hand pump.
Well
Abundant water often lies just beneath our feet. Aquifers—natural underground rivers—flow through layers of sediment and rock, offering a constant supply of safe water. A borehole well is drilled deep into the earth to access this naturally filtered and protected water. We penetrate meters, sometimes even hundreds of meters, of soil, silt, rock, and more to reach the water underground. Once found, we construct a platform for the well and attach a hand pump. The community gains a safe, enclosed water source capable of providing approximately five gallons of water per minute. Learn more here!
Community Education & Ownership
Hygiene and sanitation training are integral to our water projects. Training is tailored to each community's specific needs and includes key topics such as proper water handling, improved hygiene practices, disease transmission prevention, and care of the new water point. Safe water and improved hygiene habits foster a healthier future for everyone in the community. Encouraged and supported by the guidance of our team, a water user committee representative of the community's diverse members assumes responsibility for maintaining the water point, often gathering fees to ensure its upkeep.
