Fresh Water Wells and Sanitation

Clean, fresh water and sanitation are essential to life.

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 the Koraput district of Orissa alone there are at least 180 villages that have no clean water supply.

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. During the summer, the water levels drastically drop and the river often dries up. All that’s left are pools of water, which become tainted from bathing, washing clothes and animals drinking from them.

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 $2500 to provide fresh water to one village. Sponsor a well today and help us make a difference. To become a bore well sponsor you can pay securely online via 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. Alternatively you can download and complete the well sponsorship donation 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.

On behalf of the villagers we thank you.

All Prices are Australian Dollars. * If a tax receipt is not required. Expenses are covered by generous partners volunteering their time and resources (even bank charges).