Agou Avédjé is a village of 600 people located 65 miles northwest of Lôme, the capital of Togo. Most residents are subsistence farmers living on less than a $1 per day. Principal health problems include malaria, injuries, diarrheal/fecal-oral diseases, and malnutrition.
In 2006, the residents voiced concern to the local Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) about water scarcity. This triggered a project with EWB’s Denver Professional Chapter, who have since implemented a ceramic water filter project to improve drinking water quality, in partnership with the town’s Water Committee and the Center for Assistance to the Deprived and Orphans (CADO), a local NGO. Denver is also working on a sanitation project to install composting latrines. In addition, they enlisted EWB-CPC to increase the quantity of drinking water available.
Problem: Water Scarcity in Dry Season
The people of Agou Avedze collect their water from 8 shallow (<40 feet), hand-dug wells located throughout the village. During the dry season, the water table drops so that the wells produce little water and at times go dry by afternoon, jeopardizing hygiene and health.
In addition, the task of collecting water is currently an enormous burden on women, requiring 4 hours or more per day. It is also particularly physically exhausting at the 6 wells where there is no pump, where women must lift the typical 30 lb bucket by hand.
Finally, 6 of the 8 wells are uncovered and therefore at risk for contamination by dirty buckets, dirty surface water, etc.
Solution: Well Improvements
EWB-CPC worked with the Agou Avedze Water Committee (WC), the village elders, CADO, EWB-Denver, and the current PCV to address the town’s water supply issues.
A site assessment trip was completed in spring 2008. A supplementary assessment trip and implementation trip was conducted in 2009. The implementation project included:
1. Covering an existing well to prevent contamination, including an apron to direct spilled water away from the well shaft.
2. Installing a hand pump in an existing well so users can more easily and hygienically collect water. A positive displacement pump, the India Mark III, was used, as requested by the town.
The Water Committee already oversees water related projects in the village, so they will manage and maintain this project. EWB trained the committee on pump maintenance so they will be able to make any minor repairs.
For additional information, please contact David Loziuk at loziukd@usa.com. View our chapter’s letter to the community here. View the our chapter’s Memorandum of Understanding with the EWB Denver chapter here.
