Frequently Asked Questions
Do you only work in northern Ghana?
Yes. For the time being our focus is on addressing the water needs in this part of the world.
I know a village/town in need of a well, can you build one?
If you know of a community in dire need of water, please contact us. Please provide information on the community size, current water options, electricity availability. We are always in search of communities that meet our selection criteria.
Can I donate a well in someone’s name/memory/honor?
Yes. Please reach out to us via our get involved page.
Why is there a need for wells?
Stalled projects, empty political promises, economic neglect represent a few of the forces at play behind the lack of clean water in much of the Savannah Region. Many villages remain without electricity and with severely limited economies.
Whatever the reasons, the end result is undeniable: thousands of people without access to clean water are left to use swamps and stagnant pools to drink.
Why northern Ghana?
There is no doubt that many parts of the world have a need for fresh clean water. Our group was founded after a need was identified while traveling near Mole National Park, one of Ghana’s most popular tourists attractions. And yet closest town to the park, Larabanga, has a major water crisis. Seeing school children drinking bright green water from stagnant ponds was the first insight into the water problem that unfortunately plagues this region of Ghana. Of course we would love to be bigger, but we believe that by focusing on a small region particularly in our early days we can be more effective in building successful wells.
Are these wells sustainable?
We recognize that the easiest part of bringing water to a people sometimes is the well-building process (and also the easiest part to publicize). Our focus from the get-go is on building wells that have the potential to be long standing. We require significant community input towards the wells that we construct and that there be a maintenance plan in place prior to well construction.
What about solar powered wells?
Our experience has been that solar powered wells have very poor longevity in the areas we work. The problem is not in the set up but in the maintenance as parts are very expensive and can be difficult to obtain. This means that if a part malfunctions, that entire well becomes defunct.
How are villages chosen?
Many, many villages in the Savannah are without good options for water. Our team begins a campaign with a search for a villages that are the most likely to benefit from a well construction. We take into consideration:
Degree of need and current water options
Population
Feasibility of transporting equipment and supplies
Degree of community buy-in and readiness to maintain well
What’s next?
We must determine what water retrieval mechanism (electric vs generator vs hand pump vs hand-dug) will be best suited for each particular community. This depends on availability of electricity as well as maintenance abilities of the community.
Clearance from the regional authorities and the local chief must first be obtained, as does a location for the well construction. Our surveyor then identifies an area with a high likelihood of having good water (high water table). The materials are brought on site and a truck is contracted
How is the well dug?
In most cases, we contract a local borehole truck to come on site and dig the well. Costs for boreholes range from $1200-$2600 per borehole. We hope to one day have our own digging truck.