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Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. |
We drill wells to a typical depth of at least 100 ft, and install casing to stop contaminated ground water from leaking in. We also install hand-powered pumps to prevent the contamination that occurs from using a rope-and-bucket method. The new well is disinfected immediately after drilling, then disinfected again after the pump has been installed to ensure no contamination from the drilling process remains in the well.
Each well has an official Well Caretaker who the community has selected and we have trained and equipped. The pumps sometimes have a security jacket around them that protects parts from being stolen.
We also encourage communities to establish regular water-drawing times so the pump can be locked and protected during down times. This means the Caretaker must supervise the pump at each of those designated times, which helps promote a system of regularity.
We rehabilitate broken-down wells that are no longer providing water. This usually involves replacing the existing hand pump and the concrete pad surrounding it, along with a full disinfection. The well and pad are restored to a safe working condition. Lifewater replaces and rehabilitates wells that we originally drilled, and those drilled by other organizations who no longer provide support.
A hand-powered pump is comprised of several mechanical parts, and depending on the frequency of use, repairs will inevitably be necessary. Lifewater repairs pumps that we have installed, and those drilled by other organizations who no longer provide support.
One of the most important ways a community can become more sanitary and water safe is by having proper disposal of their sewage. We build community toilets and hand-washing stations at schools, churches, orphanages, medical clinics, and community centres. There is a wide range of toilet options ranging from single-stall pit latrines to six-stall pail-flush toilets with septic tanks. As a result, there is a wide variation in construction costs.
As part of some of these projects, we also install large rainwater storage tanks to store water for sanitation purposes only. Local community members are responsible for ongoing maintenance and treating the water with chlorine to ensure it remains safe to use.
Drawing safe water from a new well or rehabilitated well will quickly contaminate if the users aren't washing their hands or engaging in other standard sanitation practices. All Lifewater Canada projects include a half-day workshop to help community members learn about the sources of dysentery, cholera, and other diarrheal diseases, disease transmission and how to reduce it, and how to care for their water and environment. We also offer stand-alone training in communities where there isn’t an ongoing Lifewater project.
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Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. |