Wells

Access to water

Currently, only 5% of the population has access to an improved drinking water source, which affects the health of the entire population, impacts their already-low life expectancy, and causes very high infant mortality rates.

Water scarcity has a deep impact on the quality of education, especially for girls. Their time is spent walking to collect water instead of going to school. While 28% of the population over the age of 15 is literate, this rate does not exceed 15% for women. In order to reinforce access to water and improve living conditions, healthcare, and food security, the association must continue to build more wells for villages and community gardening projects.

“ Thousands have lived without love, not one without water. “

W.H. Auden, poet.

Village community wells

Often located in the center of the village, community wells provide drinking water. These cemented wells are surrounded by a low wall to protect against sand, silt, and animals.

They are closed off, disinfected, and equipped with a Volanta hand pump, making them easy for everyone to use, including children. Thanks to their concrete columns, they can draw water from depths of up to 60 meters. Their bright yellow color is visible from a great distance and they come with a warranty for replacement parts, notably for the hydraulic system.

Approximate price of a village community well, equipped with a Volanta pump, ± €25,000 ($26,500)

Wells for community gardens

Cemented community garden wells are designed for the irrigation of vegetable crops.

They are open, and equipped with a motorized pump, which draws water up into the basins. These then feed into pipes to irrigate large gardens that produce fruit, vegetables, spices, and cereals. Community garden wells are generally located within a large garden divided into 3 or 4 parts, each of which is farmed by a family. Each well is used by several gardeners who are responsible for the well’s and the pump’s upkeep.

The approximate price of a 12-meter community garden well is €10,000 ($12,000).

Livestock wells

Cemented wells for livestock, equipped with animal-powered pulleys, make it possible to pump water from depths of 80 meters.

They are fitted with concrete pipes that carry water to troughs, where a large number of animals can drink at the same time. They are usually located in desert zones frequented by nomadic shepherds. These wells are susceptible to extreme weather, and require regular maintenance and monitoring. For transhumant nomads in search of pasture, these wells are often a landmark located along corridor routes. It is maintained by a management committee chosen from among the herd owners. We are progressively fitting some of these wells with solar panels, making it possible to draw water for storage in an adjacent water tower. This means nomads always have water available in large quantities, with no need to have their animals power the pump.

The approximate price of a livestock well is between €20,000 ($24,000) and €25,000 ($30,000) depending on its depth.

  1. 350
  2. wells built since 2002
  1. 130 livestock wells
  2. 169 community garden wells
  3. 31 village wells
  4. 5 solar-powered water boreholes

In the end, these installations will alleviate women's domestic responsibilities, enabling them to develop income-generating activities. Children will be freed from water-related chores, which will enable them to go to school.

Our goal is to bring water and families closer together. To do so, we build or renovate drinking water wells, so that each camp is less than 10 km from a source of clean water. At the same time, we teach the surrounding populations to take care of these wells, and insist on the absolute necessity of properly storing drinking water. The average lifespan of a well is estimated at 30 years. Populations close to these wells tend to settle down and start working the land. Renovating wells for community gardening projects allows a greater number of inhabitants to create larger gardens. This action is twofold, as it helps fight food insecurity while also increasing income.

By creating the right conditions for sustainable economic and social development, the populations’ food security is guaranteed. Community gardening wells allow families to create well-irrigated community gardens and thus generate considerable profits through the farming of vegetables (especially onions) sold in markets.

  1. 22000
  2. people have access to quality drinking water.

See also...

Wells

Construction of a solar borehole with water tower in Tchinwoudouban

Wells

eleven new community wells in the Agadez region

Wells

Training in Water Point Management