© 2012 AID AFRICA UK Registered Charity Number 1116336
WATER - a major challenge in the rural areas
Shortage of water is an ongoing challenge, not only for drinking but irrigation of crops and to maintain a high level of hygiene and disinfection of kholas for healthy goats and high milk yield. Thanks to the generosity of Wilmslow Wells, another UK charity, we arranged to drill a borehole to create an independent water supply. Initial survey results were inconclusive, but armed with a lot of positive anecdotal evidence we watched them drill through 46mtrs of solid granite and come up dry.
We have several taps on site from the community supply, but it is unreliable and seasonally runs dry for months, threatening our work amongst the poor.
So in 2011 we installed 2 x 5000 ltr tanks, collecting and storing water overnight for use the next day.
It’s been very successful for us, but there are major community projects which need to be implemented locally to help many thousands whose villages are not yet on the system.
We are actively encouraging several major water supply schemes in the remote areas which will bring safe water to many thousands of needy people, but the wheels turn slowly in Malawi!
So in 2011 we installed 2 x 5000 ltr tanks, collecting and storing water overnight for use the next day.
It’s been very successful for us, but there are major community projects which need to be implemented locally to help many thousands whose villages are not yet on the system.
We are actively encouraging several major water supply schemes in the remote areas which will bring safe water to many thousands of needy people, but the wheels turn slowly in Malawi!
Desperately disappointing!
bore-holes ....
on our site.....
Out in the rural areas there are few community pipelines or taps, so local, clean, drinking water from a bore-hole is a priority. If the bore-holes break down, the women need to walk for miles to the next one, or risk their family’s health by using polluted wells or rivers. Collecting water from a distance is time consuming, leaving neglected families and fields, which then threaten harvest yields leading to hunger.
Malnourished bodies are particularly susceptible to disease and simple illnesses kill. If crops are to grow and feed each family, an established water supply is vital to the local community...
This Bore-Hole had been broken for a year, and served 350 people in 3 villages. Unable to afford its repair, the villagers had to walk over 3 miles for clean water, carrying it back on their heads.
We repaired the bore-hole, the parts cost just
£52.25
We repaired the bore-
£52.25
Overall, we have restored safe drinking water to many thousands of people by repairing bore-holes. Some are minor repairs - one had been broken for many months and all it needed was a tube of glue!
Others require major servicing, but the average cost of restoring safe, local water is about £100 per bore-hole
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