Site	Target
Iyolwa	Dig and protect 30 shallow wells
Busangi	Sink 30 shallow wells

Once wells are protected and hand pumps installed, children can drink clean, safe water.

Sinking shallow wells

In some parts of Iyolwa and Busangi, communities depend on underground water sources. Typically, these are traditional wells or open sources which are susceptible to contamination by run-off, animal waste and parasites. There’s also a danger of children falling into open wells.

Sinking a shallow well

A shallow well is dug only deep enough to reach the water that collects underground. It does not penetrate rock layers under the earth.

Protecting the well

The well is equipped with a hand pump. It is also covered to prevent surface contamination, mosquitos breeding and to reduce evaporation so the water supply won’t dry out, especially in dry season. The new protected wells are safe even for children to collect water.

Disinfecting the well

New protected wells generally do not require disinfection. However, old shallow wells need to be disinfected because of existing contamination. Chlorine is used for this purpose and water quality tests are carried out regularly to ensure that the water is safe for drinking.