By Lynn Malooly | Executive Director
Dear Friends of Water for South Sudan,
Thanks to supporters like you, Water for South Sudan is empowering the people of South Sudan to change their lives. Since 2005, we have drilled 259 wells which now provide over a quarter million people with access to fresh water every day. Since 2014 we have also been providing hygiene education in every village in which we drill. As 2016 starts, we look forward to an ambitious plan for even greater sustainability in our work.
Last year WFSS conducted our first formal well evaluation survey. We found all 80 wells surveyed to be in good working order, which also validated our process of training villagers in maintenance and repair and connecting them to supply chains for parts and larger repairs. We met many people whose lives have been changed, like Arual, a woman from Winrock village.
Arual had taken it upon herself to maintain the village well and to till the farm space next to the well. She told us she was grateful for water and the well because now she has time for farming and feeding her children. She was planning to grow tomatoes and okra. When asked what makes her happy, she replied simply, "When I have food."
IMPROVING WELL DESIGN & SUSTAINABILITY
Additional findings from the 2015 well evaluation survey included reports on the well platforms. We found that the cement platforms on some of our older wells were not holding up as well as we would like. We have been working on the best way to address this. After attending conferences, and meeting with water experts and engineers, we are in the final stages of a revision of our well platform design, drainage channel and surrounding fencing. In addition, we have further refined our process to seal the wells, to ensure that the aquifer into which we drill remains uncontaminated and able to supply wells with fresh water.
The 2016 season will begin with implemetation of our improved processes, with a goal of drilling up to 40 new wells. Our hygiene team will continue traveling with the drilling team and educating villagers in improved hygiene practices. Once our drilling team has mastered the new procedures, we will launch a pilot well rehabiltation team which will revisit some of the oldest wells most in need of platform repair. This pilot team plans to repair up to 20 older wells.
Our new design will continue to involve local people to build, maintain and protect their wells, leading to greater sustainability and self-sufficiency. We are building on the foundation of 10 years of success in drilling borehole wells, and look forward to continued progress in the newest country in the world. Every village that we visit will experience the life changing effects of clean water and hygiene education. Access to clean water changes everything for those living in remote villages in South Sudan.
Thank you for supporting our work. We look forward to an ambitious year as we continue to deliver on our mission to transform lives in South Sudan.
If you would like to get more news from WFSS throughout the drilling season, please sign up for WFSS email news, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
In gratitude,
Lynn Malooly
Executive Director
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