Clean Water Wells, Hygiene and Sanitation

Clean, fresh water, hygiene education and sanitation are essential to life. Villages are transformed by water.

According to United Nations statistics there are 1.1 billion people worldwide who have no access to clean water and 2 billion have no access to sanitation. In one district alone of Orissa, India there are at least 180 villages that have no clean drinking water.

When the wet season is in full force, with accompanying cyclonic winds, it is difficult to get clean water as the rivers are churned up with mud and silt, and the banks are slippery and very dangerous. In the dry season, the water levels drastically drop and rivers often dry up. All that’s left are pools of water, which become tainted from bathing, washing clothes and animals defecating. But it’s the only water they have. The women often walk miles each day to get water, carrying one or two 10 litre pots on their head and hips.

Immediate problems such as poor health and hygiene can be overcome. A bore well in a village will provide clean water – for drinking, cooking, washing and maintaining a vegetable garden. Children can be easily washed with fresh, hygienic water at the pump instead of having to climb down to the riverbank. Villagers have a guaranteed supply of clean water all year round. The women don’t have a long walk down to the pond or river – risky in flood times – and, more importantly, they don’t have to walk back carrying one or two 10 litre pots of water on their head and hips. Availability of clean water results in increased produce at markets for sale and purchase providing funds for medical and other needs for the people of the village.

Jacob’s Well and the villagers work together to provide clean water to their community. A team of village men carry the bore well rig to the selected location. Two of the village men are then employed to assist with the entire process of boring, sinking, sealing and installing the bore well casing and its hand pump. A local villager is then trained as a bore well mechanic and is responsible for the maintenance of the bore wells in a number of villages.

Jacob’s Well also trains a number of villagers to be the local hygiene educators and impart practical advice on basic hygiene and sanitation.

In addition Jacob’s Well employ Regional Development Officers (RDOs) to ensure that development work is completed and assist with identifying the ongoing needs of the villagers.

There are many isolated villages in desperate need of clean water and sanitation. Bore well sponsorship costs only AUD $2500 to provide fresh water to one village. Sponsor a well today and help us make a difference.

To become a sponsor you can pay securely online through your PayPal account or credit card with just a few clicks. Click the relevant ‘Sponsor a Well and Pump’ button on the left to make your payment. If you do not have a PayPal account click here to create one. Alternatively you can make a direct deposit into our bank account Westpac 033 112 209002 or download and complete the fresh water well sponsorship form, fill in your details and send together with your payment to PO Box 680, Glen Waverley, Australia 3150. Please make cheques made payable to ‘Jacob’s Well India’.

100% of your donation goes directly India.* Our dedicated team of field workers ensure your donation goes to the area of greatest need. Donations to approved aid development activities are tax deductible.

Jacob’s Well is a registered, not-for-profit charity founded in Australia in early 2005. Our Australian Business Number (ABN) is 65 340 113 571. In mid-2008 Jacob’s Well Foundation was established in India and is registered as a not-for-profit company, with its head office in New Delhi.

On behalf of the villagers we thank you.

* If a tax receipt is required this incurs a 6% processing fee. Credit card transactions incur up to 2.7% bank fee.