Life-giving water
Drinking water for eight villages in Senegal
Hope lies 320 metres below the surface: a deep well in the dry Steppe has
provided people with access to water for the first time. However, the water's
high level of fluoride makes it undrinkable. Filtration plants can remove the
poisonous fluoride and new pipeline networks will soon the bring life-giving water
to more than 2,000 people in the surrounding villages.
44 degrees, a hot wind suffered by the dry ground, and no source of water far and wide.
In Keur Mariama on the edge of the Sahel, people, animals and the land thirst for water.
The Carmelites are now tackling the problem and have already created a well which provides
access to groundwater deep below the surface. However, as the water contains high levels
of fluoride, it is undrinkable without pretreatment.
A pilot plant has shown that 98 per cent of the fluoride can be removed by filtration.
Therefore two plants that can filter the fluoride from the water and two pipeline networks
that can distribute the water to the surrounding villages will be built by the end of 2012.
The funds necessary for this have been invested well, as the subsequent necessary ongoing
operation of the plants is assured.
The project could also act as a model for other projects. It helps to increase the local
authorities' awareness of the problem and also shows other places how to solve the problem.
At the same time the local people are taught how to handle the water and learn about the
risks of drinking water that contains fluoride to the health of in particular children.
