Current Projects in Ethiopia

GEDAMBA – A unique project, for a unique circumstance.

We are still seeking funding to complete our project for the community of Gedamba. Be part of this exciting solution! Donate.

Gedamba is the first bore hole well project that Water to Thrive has undertaken, and the largest project to date. Most projects that we support are in communities where either a hand dug well, or a spring protection system can provide a sustainable water source. Gedamba, however, requires a complex drilling solution. Read on to learn more about Gedamba.

Background:

Gedamba is about 45 minutes outside of Addis Abba, the capital of Ethiopia. Potential donors have been visiting this community for years, but it always gets passed over because of the complexity and cost of the solution for their community.  There are no springs or creeks in the area, so their source of water is run-off collection ponds.

So what makes it such a complex and large project…

In most of implementation areas, we are blessed to have the water table close to the surface, typically between 20 to 50 feet.  In these areas, hand dug wells are ideal.  And the simplicity of a siphon hand pump works beautifully.  For Gedamba, this is not possible.  The water table is an estimated 600 to 700 feet below the surface!  The elevation of this area is some of the highest terrain in Ethiopia, at about 6,000 feet above sea level.  The only way to reach a sustainable source of water for this community is with a deep bore hole well.

The depth of the water table is the determining factor on the cost.  To drill this deep requires expensive drilling rigs and experienced skilled labor to execute the project.  It also takes a powerful pump (and generator for sustainable power) to draw the water from that depth.

Several factors come together to make this project manageable for us….

  1. Our implementation partner employs a water engineer in their Addis Ababa office in Ethiopia.  His expertise and experience in Ethiopia have been put to work in seeking a solution for Gedamba for over six months.  The appropriate field studies have been conducted with a hydrologist to determine the water table depth and he has evaluated drilling contractors to ensure the execution of the well.
  2. The proximity to Addis reduces risk.  In addition, this area is served by a paved road (a major plus!).  It is only 45 minutes from our implementation partner’s office to the well site, making project oversight for such a large project much easier.
  3. The project was too big for us to undertake with just our funds, but through support from A Glimmer of Hope foundation, together, a solution is possible.  They are matching this project dollar for dollar, making a solution real for the people of Gedamba.

A project this large and complex might not be possible in many remote areas of Ethiopia.

From the original field study, the water flow will be sufficient to serve 4-5,000 beneficiaries (over 800 households), much larger than an average project.  To help that many, a distribution network of at least 5 water access points needs to be developed.  This of course also helps to reduce the walking time dramatically, to an average of 20 minutes.

The cost of the project can be broken into 4 parts, each requiring approximately the 1/4 of the total cost.

  1. The drilling project to reach the deep water table.
  2. Development of the well head infrastructure including pump, generator, reservoir, fuel storage and a small building to protect the well head equipment.
  3. The pipeline distribution system of over 5 KM of pipe, some of it over difficult terrain.
  4. 5 water access points with latrines.

The people of the Gedamba area are active participants in the project.  They will contribute 5% of the project cost and pay a small monthly fee to have access to the water to cover on-going maintenance and fuel cost.

Yes, when we compare this project to some of our other projects, the cost is higher and the solution is more complex. It would have been easy for us to be one more of the donors to pass over this community and its needs.  But, as people of faith, it is part of our calling “to serve the least of these”.  If not us, then who?