Project Status



Project Type:  Well Rehab

Program: Water for Sierra Leone

Impact: 500 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.

A Sierra Leone team member stated, "This was such a busy well site and to see the joy from them was so great. Each time
the truck drove by this well site, the people were cheering and dancing and pointing to the water."

When the Sierra Leone team arrived, community members were utilizing a stream located two kilometers away from the community to meet all of their water needs. Because of this and the community’s practice of informal defecation, families were suffering from dysentery, typhoid, malaria and respiratory illnesses. During the team’s stay, community members assembled a water committee consisting of three men and three women who assisted the team with the water project whenever possible, provided food for the team, provided any materials they had available and helped the Sierra Leone team provide security over the water project during the night. Most community members earn a living by petty trading, working for the government, gardening and working for the nearby hospital. The nearest school is located .01 of a kilometer 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, Alusine Sillah, with a contact number in case their well were to fall into disrepair, become subject to vandalism or theft.

The Sierra Leone team had an opportunity to meet with thirty-five year old community member and nurse, Emma Bayoh, who stated, "I'm very thankful for the new hand pump. While the pump was broken down we were drinking water that wasn't pure. It had a smell and a rotten taste and a lot of germs. I'm thankful you came to help us. I'm also happy and thankful for the bible storying.  That with the new hand pump and hygiene training has changed the face of this community."

During the hygiene education, the Sierra Leone 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.

Project Updates


October, 2018: Continued Work in Modia

The initial project in this community (seen in the reporting found on this page) is a display of our shared commitment to helping this community 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.




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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.