Conclusion of Wondo Genet Well Rehab Program – Ethiopia

This fantastic project to restore water to 5 villages in Wondo Genet, Ethiopia has been completed.
To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Wondo Genet Woreda (District) is located in the Sidama Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR) in southern Ethiopia. It is part of the Great Rift Valley and is bordered on the north and east by the Oromia Region. The District had an outbreak of dysentery in June 2016, attributed to contaminated drinking water.  A cholera outbreak is affecting three associations with a population of nearly twenty thousand. The water source includes traditional unprotected sources such as springs and rivers as well and shallow hand-dug wells with water fetched with rope and bucket.

The clean water supply coverage of the district is low partly because of failed hand pumps.  In June 2016, the District Water Bureau reported 60 broken pumps. In the absence of a clean water source nearby, women and children have to travel long distances to fetch water and this has a negative impact on the health and time management of women and children.

Poor hygiene and sanitation practices also contribute to the transmission of disease.  Communities are not practicing proper disposal of excreta, hygienic handling of food substances and utensils, and management of animal wastes.   An educational effort is needed to reinforce good behaviors that protect human health from disease outbreaks.

PROJECT SUMMARY

In order to address the great water needs and to play a role in combating the recent chronic dysentery outbreak in Wondo Genet, Water Charity & Water is Life International (WiLi) completed a project of 5 (five) well rehabilitations since August 2016.  Well rehabilitations are a cost-effective way to recover clean water sources within a community.  All of the wells that were rehabilitated were either not performing at all or seriously under-performing in terms of quality or yield.  In all cases, the local community provided fencing materials and labor as needed for the rehabilitation process.

In addition to the hardware work that repaired the pumps, an educational process was conducted to increase responsibility and accountability for the continued maintenance of the pumps and to improve sanitation and hygiene practices.  Water Use Committees (WUC) were formed for each well.  The WUC is comprised of 4 women and 3 men elected from the community.  They are encouraged to collect funds for the water to have a budget for future repairs.  They also have been taught to be teachers in the community to promote practices such as washing hands and using latrines.

Village by Village Breakdown

Village	Previous Condition	Rehabilitation Intervention	Direct Beneficiaries
Wuchale (Bure)	The well was not functioning for the last 6 months; They travel over 2 km round trip to get water from springs; pump units out of use and needs replacement. Wellhead concrete is broken Water committee not formed	The well was developed and cleaned; a new pump, riser main and PVC casing supplied & installed; and the pump head and adjustable handle restored. Wellhead reconstructed. Water committee formed & WaSH training provided The well was disinfected with chlorine	350
Megenano	The well was not functioning for 9 months; pump unit, rod & PVC beyond repairable; wellhead shattered and requires; travel far to fetch from spring sources rehabilitation	The well was developed and cleaned; rod and PVC casing supplied & installed, and wellhead rehabilitated. WUC strengthened & WaSh training provided The well disinfected with chlorine	357
Lomiche 2nd	The well was not functioning for the last 6 months; getting water from springs took women & children 40 minutes (round trip); damaged parts: rod, PVC, seal & bushings Wellhead broken & WUC weakened; Sanitation & hygiene awareness low	The well was developed, cleaned, and broken parts of the pump repaired. Wellhead refurbished WUC strengthened & WaSH training provided The well disinfected with chlorine	525
Kube	The well was not functioning for 1 year; damaged parts: rod, PVC, seal & bushings; more people come from upstream areas to get clean water from this well; do not practice washing hands after toilet	The well was developed, cleaned, and pump parts repaired; wellhead rehabilitated; WUC established; WaSH training provided; The well disinfected with chlorine	560
Lomiche 1st	The well was not functioning for 7 months.  Upstream duelers came to collect water from this well. During pump breakage, they travel 1 hour to get clean water from other sources.  Except for the pump head, all pump components are broken. Wellhead needs rehab	The well was developed, cleaned, and except the pump head, all pump components are replaced; Wellhead refurbished; WaSH training provided & WUC strengthened; The well disinfected with chlorine	1400