Project Status



Project Type:  Well Rehab

Program: Water for Sierra Leone

Impact: 400 Served

Project Phase:  Decommissioned

Project Features


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Community Profile

This project was implemented by another partner, but is now monitored and maintained by The Water Project together with Mariatu's Hope.

When the Sierra Leone team arrived, the fence surrounding the well site was not plastered. The pump and the casing were damaged and lining was also damaged. The team cleared out the well and fixed the lining and casing, then plastered the fence and installed new pump and poured new cement. There were 400 residents who had been forced to depend on an unprotected hand dug well located half of a kilometer away from the community to meet all of their water needs. Because of this and the community’s practice of open defecation, families were suffering from dysentery, malaria, diarrhea and severe dehydration among other preventable water related illnesses. During the team’s stay, community members assembled a water committee consisting of five men and five women who assisted the team with the water project whenever possible, provided food and guarded the team’s equipment during the night. Most residents farm, garden or petty trade to earn a living and a few teach at the nearby school. There is a school located half of a kilometer away from the community whose students, teachers and administrative personnel all now have access to a safe water source.

The Sierra Leone team had an opportunity to meet with thirty-two year old community member and petty trader, Mabinty Kamara, who stated, "The old source was rope and rubber by drawing the water out with the rope and rubber. The new water source is easy they will have no pain in using the hand pump, so sometimes they send their children to pump for them because the pump is safe."

The People were cooperative in making Tippy Taps. Since this is a new WASH committee set up at this well, no money had been collected. The committee has been instructed that they will need to impose a fee for water so when the pump has problems they can repair it themselves.

Project Updates


December, 2017: New Intervention in Royema Community

The initial project in this community (seen in the reporting found on this page) is a display of our shared commitment to helping these people with first time water access. Equally as important to the community and The Water Project is ongoing support to make sure that water is reliable, day after day, year after year. This is why we monitor all our projects. Over time we’ve found that the water table has dropped in this area, limiting the intended benefit of this well. Though not common, this does happen from time to time.  

Because of our commitment to people in this community (and the lasting impact that our supporters want to make), we’ve drilled this well deeper in order to access a deeper, higher yield aquifer. This work will ensure that clean water is accessible here year round. To see that work, click here.




Project Photos


Project Type

Well rehabilitation is one of the most cost effective ways to bring clean, safe water to a community.  Sometimes it involves fixing a broken hand pump, other times it means sealing a hand dug well to prevent it from being contaminated.  These repairs, and often time total replacements, coupled with sanitation and hygiene training make a huge impact in communities.


Contributors

Project Underwriter - Riverside Church of Christ
Yakima Foursquare Church