Sep 3 2014
The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill's (UNC) Water Institute and Water and Sanitation for Africa has conducted a new study on the usability of wells that were drilled for drinking water. These wells remained in use when the community members had the training to fix wells and were also collecting fees for repair and maintenance.
A repair committee in Ghana fixes a well drilled by World Vision. Credit: World Vision
The researchers studied 1,470 wells in Ghana’s Greater Afram Plains region. World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization had drilled 898 of those wells. . They provided a model wherein a water committee was created and a small fee was collected for any repairs. Around 80% of wells drilled by them remained in operation even after two decades. The study observed that 45% wells malfunctioned in the past year, however they were repaired and kept functional.
World Vision had established local water as well as sanitation and hygiene committees for managing the water points. Local residents made up these committees and they were responsible for collecting the usage fees and fees for repair of well. World Vision has provided training as well as tool kits for repairing and maintaining the wells. Many government and NGOs follow this approach.
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has provided funding for the project and the study is to be highlighted at the World Water Week meeting to be held in Stockholm, Sweden. For over two decades, the foundation has contributed $80 million for providing water access to 2 million people.
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