Water for All “Walagangane”
Most if not all African countries face a large deficit in available potable water to sustain normal living conditions. In African rural area, the heavy exodus to the uncertain city life is due to the lake of water to raise crop and livestock for sustainability in the farmland. In place where water is available, the depth of the water table usually prohibits drilling at the community level with inadequate resources. Water table could also be high, but loose (sandy) soil calls for permanent maintenance of the well. It is a regular practice for women to walk more than five miles to fetch a 2-3 gallons of water for the family daily needs. Traditional water well drilling is labor intensive, time consuming, dangerous, and hard to maintain.
The drilling rig we propose to use is a simple and proven technology that allows to safely bore a water well 15-20 cm in diameter and at profound depth with a considerably reduced labor and money. The equipment is composed of a simple 2-cycle engine, 1.5 m steel boring rods, cadmium boring tips, a battery of p.v.c. pipes and a mud pump. It is simple to operate and to maintain, with less or no moving parts. With the model we intend to use, two persons could bore an average well within twelve hours. Africa Bound’s visit to the manufacturing site reveals the considerable technical support the manufacturer can provide.
Africa Bound has training videotape already in French, English and Wolof for the drill. With the acquisition of these innovative, sustainable appropriate technology machines, Africa Bound will provide the drilling service to community groups: farmers, villagers, livestock herders and gardeners the opportunity for purchase or drilling service. This program will significantly help to reduce the mass exodus of the youth population to the cities.
Low input, simple, yet efficient: The Indian Know-how
International Development Enterprises (IDE), an Indian not-for profit organization has come up with this appropriate technology to respond to the small farmers and gardners water demand. A simple technology with a good fitness workout. This is a cooperation between IDE and ORISSA for “Making Sustainable Development Work”. Capacity ranges up to 1,500 liters per hour with a suction depth of 8-10 meters and a lifting height up to 10 meters (33ft). With surface water (pond, river)the pump can deliver up to a height of 20 meters. Price ranges from: 750 roupis to 1,000 roupis (1US$=48 roupis). Photo courtesy of IDE, India.
Would you consider sponsoring a community project by donating one or several of these machines? Would you like to visit the site for your own assessment? Please contact ddfaye@africabound.org.
Women Empowering Women – WEW-
In rural Africa, water chore is mainly devoted to women who could work for miles to fetch a daily ration of usually non-potable water. ABC/WEW is a project of women spearheading water well drilling in Africa. From fundraising, purchasing rigs to trip to Africa, WEW aims to reach out to these unsung heroes and contribute to lessen the water burden. You can be part of this laudable program. For more, please contact Evelyn Joyce: 512 303 7288 or email us at: ddfaye@africabound.org.
