Water Sanitation and Distribution
Comments (0) Michael Shields
Clean, safe drinking water is a precious commodity in the region. Every peasant group and community leader ranks unsanitary drinking water as the root cause of many diseases endemic in the region. Ironically, Borgne has abundant fresh water sources, but none of these are free of virus, bacteria and parasites without treatment. Many of the cleaner sources are remote from the population centers, making it a burden for children and women to carry the water in buckets – up to an hour each way – just to have any water at all. The river is a common local water source – but the quality of the water is so low that it is a major source of disease.
Our water project is a joint effort between the local water committees in the region and H.O.P.E. Its purpose is to make clean, safe drinking water available to every household in the region. We are beginning with a project to restore water distribution and treatment to the villages of Borgne and Fond la Grange, with a population of over 10,000. The project will cap a local water source and distribute water to fountains in these towns. Water will be treated at the fountains with solar powered UV treatment systems that are already proven to be effective within the H.O.P.E. clinic at Borgne.?
Subsequent project stages include capping springs in more remote habitations as well as providing simple water treatment and training for the community.?
Resources Required:
- Funding for project to cap spring at Lasavatte and distribute water to fountains.
- Pumps, and solar panels to power pumps needed to fill cistern.
- UV systems and solar panels for water treatment at fountains.
- Funding for local workers to oversee and maintain the system.
