The Story of a Well
7 Steps to a WHI Well
1. Funding - WHI secures financing for wells in three ways: through outside donations, from internal contributions from our supporting organization (the Radler Foundation), or from contracts and partnerships with other nonprofit organizations.
2. Site Selection - WHI accepts applications from community leaders requesting a well, and also periodically surveys new areas to ascertain the local water situation. As a faith-driven organization, WHI selects sites based on several factors, most importantly village water need and whether or not there is a church in the immediate area. If you are a Sponsoring Organization or an Individual Donor, you may also choose the desired location in such places as primary schools, near health clinics, in locations that support underfunded government facilities, or in a village that you may have a particular connection to. WHI is extremely flexible when it comes to working with donors who have a heart and passion for sustainable, clean water projects in East Africa.
3. Pre-drill - Before drilling, the exact location of the well in the particular village is determined based on geography and the layout of the community. WHI's goal is to minimize walking distance for all members of the community, even if the village is spread out at significant distance. The crew then works with the community to clear the site and gather appropriate materials (stones, aggregate, sand) thus ensuring community support and ownership. Next, the Sanitation Coordinators begin their multi-day program with the community for sanitation training, using the UN-developed PHAST method. This training is vital to extend the benefits of clean water, as un-sanitary practices lead to continued water-born disease in the community. During this Pre-Drill process the WHI Ministry Coordinator, if desired by the donor, leads a Biblically sound evangelism effort in the village along with the local church, helping to strengthen the moral fabric and values of the small community by showing that the free gift of clean water was brought by nothing more than the love and hope of Jesus Christ.
4. Drilling - The process usually required 1-3 days. Boreholes are drilled with our PAT drilling rig and Atlas Copco air compressor, and usually take 8-12 hours of straight drilling to complete. The average depth of wells in this area is around 50 meters, however after the aquifer is struck it is not uncommon for the static water level to rise up to just 15 meters. During drilling, crew members train 1-2 selected villagers in mechanics of the pump and in its repair so that communities can maintain the wells themselves after WHI leaves. In very remote areas that are difficult to access, the WHI crew focuses additional time and effort on the training of villagers and also leaves extra numbers of spare parts and repair kits for the well.
5. Pump Installation - After the borehole is complete and water is struck, the team "cases off" the new hole with PVC pipe. The Pump Installation crew, which operates seperately from the Drilling Rig team, then installs the Inda Mark II or III pump. Often, local villagers will assist with this aspect of the process in order to learn and understand the mechanics of the pump at a basic level.
6. Post-drill - Continuing with the Sanitation and Ministry outreach, the crew leads a celebration and prayer in conjuction with the local church and pastor when the well is completed. Next, the team officially passes ownership of the well to the community, and entrusts care to the democratically-elected water committee. The water committee consists of a Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer. Each of these duties carries differing responsobilities, however one of the most vital aspects is the collection of nominal monthly usage fees for the well by the Treasurer, often just $0.50 per family per month. The Treasurer retains the fees in reserve in case the well needs future repair parts. After leaving the site, the team prepares drilling reports, which are submitted to sponsors, donors, and the local government and UN for official records. Each individual donor also receives a customized web page showing pictures, stories, video of the community they supported. See an example donor web page here: EXAMPLE DONOR PAGE
7. Follow-up - WHI remains available to communities to help with all repairs and any issues the community may have with their new water well. The WHI crew revisits sites as often as every 90 days, however this is partly determined by the proximity of the well to WHI's base in Wudu Village, Kajo Keji County, South Sudan. In instances where distances to WHI drilled wells are great, the crew will focus extra attention and additional training on key men in the village who have solid knowledge of pump mechanics. Lastly, one of the most critical aspects of our work is the personal and communal development that comes through the installation of Christian-based moral values. Maintaining a strong relationship with the community through our Ministry Coordination team is ongoing, and regularly checking in to help counsel the local Pastor and village members does occur and is the reponsobility of the WHI team.