Well Drilling & Rehabilitation
Well Drilling
Water for South Sudan Foundation (WFSSF) has consistently delivered water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programming since 2005. Local leadership has navigated country changes without interruptions to work. WFSSF works in the Upper Nile, Bahr el Ghazal, and Equatoria regions. To date, the organization has drilled more than 600 wells with an annual goal to drill a minimum of 40 new wells.
Before WFSSF drills a well, access to clean water is extremely limited in rural villages—residents often only have access to a contaminated source. WFSSF works with local governments and community leaders to determine the placement of wells. The goal is to create sustainable systems, incorporating well maintenance and training as part of new well construction. WFSSF trains one to two people in each village on simple well maintenance and repairs and connects villages to local supply chains to help acquire spare parts if needed.
WFSSF's wells have a borehole diameter of 20 centimeters with slightly smaller casings. WFSSF drills wells up to 100 meters (300 feet) deep. The team incorporates design upgrades to create a more durable structure and better protect the aquifer. The drilling team requires three to four days to drill a new well. All wells drilled by WFSSF must go through water testing analysis to be deemed safe for human consumption.
Well Rehabilitation
In response to the need to improve the sustainability of water sources, WFSSF launched the well rehabilitation program in 2017. This program aims to bring WFSSF's older wells to a higher design standard with repairs to broken parts, upgrades to cement well platforms, and new animal watering troughs.
The rehabilitation team is always ready to respond to repair requests for wells drilled by other organizations. The team visits the broken well and employs necessary measures to return the well to full functionality. Rehabilitating these wells provides a sustainable and reliable water source for years to come. The team has rehabilitated more than 370 wells and aims to rehab at least 40 wells each drilling season.
Water Storage & Distribution
Solar-powered technology pumps water into the raised water storage tank; gravity allows water to flow through underground pipes to five water kiosks within the county: school, market center, garden, health clinic, and animal trough.
Purifying tablets must be added regularly to the tank to keep the water clean. Training a tank maintenance person and additional community members to understand the number of chemicals needed to ensure the safety of the stored water is vital to the project's success. The maintenance person cares for the tank and maintains the well, solar-powered pump, batteries, and backup generator. Trained personnel respond to community requests for repairs and maintain connections with local supply chains for needed parts. Water storage & distribution projects provide daily access to clean water in communities of 2,000 to 10,000 residents.
Integrated Resource Management and Sustainability
WFSSF, with its nearly twenty years of expertise and with the help of international donors, is gearing toward integrated water resources management by initiating groundwater quality monitoring, environmental conservation, and irrigation systems to enhance food security in the region. The team conducts regular groundwater quality monitoring and afforestation to prevent desertification, improve the water cycle, and support irrigation for food security; these efforts improve living standards for communities in South Sudan.
Additionally, we aim for sustainability in all we do. Before project implementation, we consult with local governments; village elders make final decisions on the placement of wells, which become assets owned and managed by the people that use them daily. WFSSF trains community members to maintain and make simple repairs to wells, leaving behind spare parts, and ensuring their long-term sustainability. If a well breaks down, the village reports this to their county leaders, who call WFSSF directly. If additional support is needed, WFSSF is available to assist the community.
We now use diesel-powered concrete mixers as part of our continuous improvement, resulting in more robust concrete well platforms and drainage channels. Wire mesh is also used within the structure to prevent the concrete from crumbling. WFSSF is now using longer-lasting stainless steel riser pipes, replacing galvanized steel. We also rely on scientifically proven drilling methods, measuring the PH and viscosity of mud to adjust the polymer needed in each well. We also require all communities to build a security fence around the wells to protect the water source from contamination and prevent the concrete's crushing.
Monitoring & Evaluation
WFSSF is committed to ensuring its sustainable projects and providing long-term solutions to the people it serves. The organization strives to improve efficiencies through regular and deliberate evaluative activities to examine goals.
The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) program focuses on all of our programs. Annual visits to previously drilled or rehabbed wells include:
Determine the well status and functionality and make necessary upgrades;
Retest the water to ensure it is still safe for human consumption;
Meet with hygiene educators to assess the community's behavior change;
WFSSF utilizes M&E data to improve processes and procedures for future WASH projects.
COVID-19 Hygiene Awareness Campaign & Current Education
Knowledge of and access to information about the COVID-19 pandemic was limited in South Sudan. In April 2020, UNICEF asked our team to provide hygiene awareness training to communities and towns in Wau, South Sudan. This project aimed at preventing the virus from spreading to communities throughout the country, where access to healthcare is limited or nonexistent.
Using data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and personal protective equipment, our team communicated detailed information about the virus and its symptoms. WFSSF also shared the importance of being prepared for quarantine, best practices for handwashing, and social distancing. The training was administered in four languages: Arabic, Dinka, Luol, and English. The team trained 18,000+ residents of South Sudan.
As part of the COVID-19 campaign, the WFSSF team delivered handwashing supplies to 25 Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) throughout Jur River County. While visiting these centers, the team identified ten centers lacking access to water. To address this need, the team rehabilitated six existing wells and drilled four new wells. Additionally, WFSSF trained 52 health workers on coronavirus Infection Prevention and Control (IPC).
WFSSF now includes COVID-19 hygiene information as part of the hygiene education training implemented in each village.
Water Savings
Empowering communities to raise and secure a "water savings fund" further strengthens the long-term sustainability of the new water source. As part of the motorized water storage and distribution system project, the community of Pinydit established a water savings committee to cover the maintenance operator's pay and supplies costs.
