How We Serve

The average cost of a hand dug well or spring protection system is $5,000. This provides water for up to 500 people. Our operating model supports the sustainability of the water projects by requiring fundamental objectives that must be met with each and every project we implement.

The following are requirements of our projects:

  • Community Involvement: 5% of the total project cost must come in the form of community support (labor, materials, etc.)
  • Water Councils: At each water project, a six-member committee is appointed from the benefiting community and made responsible for the care and upkeep of the well.
  • Training: Water Council members are trained in management and maintenance of the water point and receive support from the implementing partners when needed.
  • Well Maintenance/Sustainability: Water Councils are also responsible for collecting nominal fees from people collecting water from the project; that money is then used to cover maintenance costs to keep the water point operational.
  • Reporting: We require detailed completion reports on all projects funded by major contributors. These reports include detailed written accounts, photographs, GPS coordinates, and in some cases, video.

Water to Thrive implements three types of project solutions:

Hand-dug wells: Dug by hand, the maximum depth of a hand dug well is 50ft while the diameter can be up to 5ft. Once the groundwater is reached, the well is lined with concrete and sealed with a slab. A hand-pump is then installed to bring the water to the surface. Hand-dug wells offer a cost-effective solution that can be implemented effectively, without the cost of expensive equipment.

Spring protection:

A spring protection project involves capping a natural spring with concrete. Once the source is capped, water is transported through pipes to the nearest suitable distribution points (e.g. faucets). By sealing a spring, disease-causing pathogens are kept from entering the water.

Bore Hole:

A bore hole well is a solution when the water table is too deep for a hand dug well to be implemented. Bore hole drilling 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. This is the most complex implementation solution, and is typically only used when a hand dug wells or spring protection systems are not viable options.