Conclusion of Village Well Program Phase II – Madagascar

Water Charity has completed Phase II of our Village Well Program in Madagascar.  

This project has been completed under the direction of Fred Rittelmeyer, NPCA and THE MADAGASCAR WATER PROJECT INC. 

This project has been completed. To read about the start of the project, CLICK HERE.

The Madagascar Water Project (MWP) has been a huge success overall and Phase II (as has been the case all along) is no exception. Water Charity has managed to repair wells in hundreds of villages in rural Madagascar.

The Madagascar Water Project – Water Charity Partnership engages in high-impact projects implemented over a relatively short period of time, with measurable results. Madagascar remains one of the poorest and least developed countries on Earth. It’s not a conflict area. There are no natural disasters, no earthquakes, no cyclones. However, there is a human crisis, hunger, disease, and lack of opportunity. The goal of the project is to begin the process for a better quality of life with better health and clean water is a fundamental beginning. Water Charity providing this most basic need lays the groundwork for a path to a better quality of life.

The program conducted a General Maintenance Trip for all wells installed by MWP since work began in 2015. It included 106 producing wells in 63 different villages across 2 Regions in Madagascar (Atsinanana and Vatovavy Fitovinany) that provide water to about 60,000 people. Each well is profiled in the report and organized chronologically. Routine maintenance was performed on every well and 20% required additional repairs. Spare pumps have become scarce since the end of the program last year, and this has delayed the repairs on several wells. The next trip is scheduled for early June, and the repairs will be made at that time. A cyclone passed through the area during the trip, so logistics were quite difficult. Since no one was hurt and the SUV stayed dry, Water Charity can look at the Trip with a good feeling of accomplishment.  As it stands, all of the work we set out to do for Phase II was completed successfully on (or under) budget.

The Village Well Program Phase II – Madagascar project achieved all its objectives. Water Charity drilled twenty-two wells in 14 villages that now provide clean water to an estimated 16,140 people also, twenty-two Well Management Committees were organized, which included technicians that were trained to maintain and repair the pumps.

Accomplishments of the project include the following:

• An estimated 16,140 people who previously lacked clean water now have clean, potable water
• Fourteen rural villages that were vulnerable to water-borne diseases now have clean, accessible, community-based water systems
• Twenty-two water wells were drilled inside vulnerable villages
• Twenty-two Well Management Committees were organized to manage, maintain, and provide community water services in an equitable manner. A contact list was assembled to facilitate good communication and provide support year-round.
• Technical training and spare parts were provided to each Well Management Committee. The table below provides the details for each well.

Most wells are drilled in half a day

Drilling is done manually. A hand auger is used to drill to the top of the water table, which is commonly found at 4 – 6 meters depth. After the depth of the water is determined, the good assembly is built, run in the hole, and hammered three meters to total depth. A hand pump is used to test the well. Once good production is established, a table and slab are built to finish the well. The villagers then build an enclosure or roofed hut to house the well.

Sustainability is ensured

Well, Management Committees are organized in each community, for each well. Technicians are identified and trained, and the tools required to maintain and repair the pumps are provided. Our team visits each well quarterly to provide guidance to the Committees and to make repairs as needed. The Project maintains a helpline where each Committee can get technical assistance and spare parts as needed. Most communities require little help beyond the quarterly visits and more than 90% of all wells remain productive.

Key Performance Indicators that will be quantified and assessed to determine the impact of the program include the following:

• Quantify and track the incidence of water-borne diseases and other diseases related to poor hygiene and sanitation.
• Quantify and track the number of people having better access to clean water. An estimated 90% of the population of each village now have improved access to clean water.
• Quantify and track the number of people who adopt improved health, hygiene, and sanitation behaviors.
• Quantify and track school attendance and grades
• Quantify and track the quality of life indicators such as income, individual productivity, infant mortality, and nourishment.

Water Charity would like to thank Fred Rittelmeyer for the incredible work he has done in Madagascar in partnership with Water Charity. Fred continues to be one of the most effective, uncompromising, and efficient friends to the people of Madagascar. Easily an order of magnitude more so than anyone else in the WASH sector doing development work there.

The work of the Partnership will continue, bringing clean water into more villages that wait patiently for this help. In most cases, the Program wells are the only sources of clean water in the villages.

There are still many villages in the area that have no source for clean water……………..there’s still much work to be done. 

Please see the report pages below for further information.

The Madagascar Water Project: Master Well List: March 2020

WELL No.PhaseDateVillageBeneficiariesStatus: Mar-20CommentsNoneSlabTablePumpShelterCharity
MWP1IMarch 2015Andovoranto400Producing X     
MWP2IMarch 2015Andovoranto400Producing X     
MWP3IMarch 2015Andovoranto400Producing X     
MWP4IMarch 2015Andovoranto400Producing X     
MWP5IMarch 2015Andavakimena300Producing     X 
MWP6IIMarch 2016Andovoranto400Producing X     
MWP7IIMarch 2016Andovoranto0Abandonedpipe failed-leaked      
MWP8IIMarch 2016Andovoranto400Producing   X X 
MWP9IIMarch 2016Andovoranto400Producing   X X 
MWP10IIMarch 2016Andovoranto400Not Producing  XXXX 
MWP11IIMarch 2016Ambilabe350Producing  XXXX 
MWP12IIMarch 2016Tsivangina550Producing  XXXX 
MWP13IIMarch 2016Ampasimbe0Temp Abandonedcontaminated      
MWP14   0        
MWP15   0        
MWP16IIISep-16Ambodivaro800Producing       
MWP17IIISep-16Tsivangiana CEG350Producing    X  
MWP18IIISep-16Kalomalala0Abandonedpipe failure      
MWP19IIISep-16Kalomalala0Abandonedplugged screens      
MWP20IIISep-16Andavakimena0Abandonedpoor water quality      
MWP21IIISep-16Ambilabe350Producing  XXXX 
MWP22   0        
MWP23IVFeb-17Sondrara950Producing   XXX 
MWP24IVFeb-17Avdovona0Abandonedseasonally dry-shallow      
MWP26IVFeb-17Andovoranto CEG250Producing  XXXX 
MWP27   0        
MWP28VSep-17Andovona400Not WorkingReplaces MWP-24 XXXX 
MWP29VSep-17Vavony650Producing X     
MWP30VSep-17Ambodivoara0Temp Abandonedpoor water quality      
MWP31VSep-17Kalomalala250Producing     X 
MWP32VSep-17Ambokambatsy120Producing  XXXX 
MWP33VSep-17Amboditafara450Producing    XX 
MWP34VSep-17Analalava215Producing     X 
MWP35VSep-17Sondrara – salty0Producing     X 
MWP36VSep-17Mahatsara178Producing   XX  
MWP37VSep-17Vohitrampasina360Producing X     
MWP38VSep-17Andovoranto Elementary0Abandonedcontaminated      
MWP39VSep-17Manakambahiny0Abandonedplugged screens      
MWP40VSep-17Cocotier hotel0Producing    X  
MWP41VSep-17Antsiranamihanina350Producing     X 
MWP42VSep-17Ambilan’i varanta100Producing X     
MWP43VDec-17Andovoranto400Producing X     
BW1VSep-17Ivato – bucket well pump300Producing X     
BW2VSep-17Ivato – bucket well pump300Producing X     
MWP44VIJuly-18Ampanalana600Producing    XX600
MWP45VIJuly-18Ambodiharina850Producing     X 
MWP46VIJuly-18Ambodiharina850Producing X     
MWP47VIJuly-18Andranotsara850Producing    XX850
MWP48VIJuly-18Manonilaza425Not Producing  XXXX 
MWP49VIJuly-18Masomeloka800Producing     X800
MWP50VIJuly-18Masomeloka800Producing     X800
MWP51VIJuly-18Analila0Not Producingsalt water XXXX 
MWP52VIJuly-18Analila800Producing     X 
MWP53VIJuly-18Manonilaza425Not Producing  XXXX 
MWP54VIJuly-18Masomeloka800Producing    X 800
MWP55VIJuly-18Masomeloka800Producing    X 800
MWP56VIJuly-18Masomeloka Catholic Schl350Producing X    350
MWP57VIJuly-18Antaniambo650Producing     X650
MWP58VIJuly-18Antaniambo650Abandoned X    650
MWP59VIJuly-18Old Sohihy600Producing    XX600
MWP60VIJuly-18Old Sohihy600Not Producing    XX600
MWP61VIJuly-18New Sohihy300Producing     X 
MWP62VIJuly-18Ampanotoana750Producing    XX750
MWP63VIJuly-18Ampanotoana750Not Producing    XX750
MWP64VIJuly-18Antanandava300Producing     X 
MWP65VIJuly-18Andakorolava350Producing     X 
MWP66VIJuly-18Antarobia350Producing     X 
MWP67VIJuly-18Ankazomirafy400Producing     X 
MWP68VIJuly-18Tsangambato550Producing     X 
MWP69VIJuly-18Salehy750Producing    X 750
MWP70VIJuly-18Salehy750Producing    X 750
MWP71VIJuly-18Nierenana150Producing   XXX 
MWP72VIJuly-18Marosiky750Producing     X 
MWP73VIJuly-18Marosiky750Producing     X 
MWP74VIJuly-18Marosiky750Producing     X 
MWP75VIJuly-18Ambody Pont350Producing X     
MWP76VIJuly-18Andovoranto Hospital250Producing  XXXX 
MWP77VIIApril-19New Sohihy330Producing     X 
MWP78VIIApril-19New Sohihy330Producing     X 
MWP79VIIApril-19New Sohihy330Producing     X 
MWP80VIIJuly-19Antsiranamihanina350Producing     X 
MWP81VIISept-19Fenoarivo525Not Producing    X 525
MWP82VIISept-19Fenoarivo525Producing     X525
MWP83VIIAug-19Masondranokely700Producing     X700
MWP84VIIAug-19Ambodisaina700Producing    X 700
MWP85VIIAug-19Ampahomanitra700Producing     X700
MWP86VIIAug-19Ampahomanitra Hospital700Producing     X700
MWP87VIIAug-19Ampahomanitra700Producing X    700
MWP88VIISept-19Ambalavontaka1,000Producing     X1,000
MWP89VIISept-19Ambalavontaka1,000Producing X    1,000
MWP90VIISept-19Ambalavontaka1,000Producing     X1,000
MWP91VIISept-19Ambinanin’ny Sakaleona1,000Producing     X1,000
MWP92VIISept-19Ambinanin’ny Sakaleona1,000Producing     X1,000
MWP93VIISept-19Ambinanivolo400Producing     X400
MWP94VIISept-19Nosindravina400Producing     X400
MWP95VIISept-19Ambodisanan’ny Sahafary850Producing X    850
MWP96VIISept-19Ambohitsara1,000Producing     X 
MWP97VIISept-19Andonaka south650Producing X    650
MWP98VIISept-19Andonaka north650Producing X    650
MWP99VIIAug-19Ambahy1,000Producing     X1,000
MWP100VIIAug-19Ambahy1,000Producing     X1,000
MWP101VIIOct-19Andranotsindrano750Producing     X750
MWP102VIIOct-19Analanolona750Producing     X750
MWP103VIIOct-19Nosy varika1,000Producing     X1,000
MWP104VIIOct-19Andranotsara250Producing X     
MWP105VIIOct-19Ambarimalemy500Producing X     
MWP106VIINov-19Ambalabe500Producing X     
MWP107VIINov-19Ambodisakoana500Producing X     
MWP108VIINov-19Ambodisakoana500Producing     X 
MWP109VIINov-19Ambodisakoana500Producing     X 
MWP110VIINov-19Seranandavitra450Producing X     
MWP111VIINov-19Seranandavitra450Producing X     
MWP112VIINov-19Ambodivoangy550Producing X     
MWP113VIINov-19Ampanalana Vatomandry750Producing X     
MWP114VIINov-19Itampolo400Producing     X 
MWP115VIINov-19Maintinandry750Producing    X  
MWP116VIINov-19Maintinandry750Producing    X  
MWP117VIINov-19Manakambahiny750Producing    XX 
MWP118VIINov-19Kalomalala250Producing    XX 
MWP119VIIJune 2019Ram pump850Not Functional    X  
WELL No.PhaseDateVillage58,313Status: Mar-20CommentsNoneSlabTablePumpShelter27,500