At the end of 2009, the «Water is Life» project had constructed 1,246 wells in Cameroon. This means that thousands of women and children to whom the task of collecting water is traditionally allocated no longer have to trudge often very long distances to water holes. To ensure that the wells function properly, around 200 are checked, repaired and maintained each year. Due to the constantly increasing number of wells, the financing of maintenance operations is gaining in importance.
All the wells are distributed over a large area of rainforest that is about the same size as the entire German-speaking region of Switzerland. Since telephone connections are not available everywhere, it can take a week or even longer for reports about damage to a well to reach the project management team in Otélé. Such reports are made by village water committees, which are responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of wells. They receive support from the project, but are required to carry out a certain proportion of the work themselves, which encourages villagers to take proper care of their own well.
Wear and tear results in breakdowns
Although the wells are of solid construction and normally function relatively smoothly for a lengthy period of time, breakdowns can occur due to wear and tear, improper operation, vandalism and the influence of weather conditions. Certain parts such as plungers and rubber seals need to replaced, and damaged threads, pump valves and levers, etc., have to be exchanged. Tropical downpours can sometimes cause irreparable damage to the surroundings of a well, which subsequently have to be rebuilt. Occasionally a water vein becomes completely sealed, in which case the only solution is to build another well.
Comprehensive overhauls
The maintenance and repairs crew of the «Water is Life» project carries out repairs, and occasionally performs a complete overhaul of a well. Each overhaul is also used as an opportunity to explain to the villagers once again how to use the pump correctly and keep the surroundings clean.
In view of the constantly increasing number of wells, the St. Martin Foundation has been attaching greater importance to maintenance operations over the past few years.
It is not only the more than 1,200 wells that need to be maintained, but also the 25-kilometer unsurfaced stretch between Otélé and Ebeba, which is the project’s most important connection to the capital, Yaoundé.
The maintenance crew was established in 1993 for the purpose of inspecting all 120 wells that were in operation at that time. However, they did not have to repair or overhaul all the wells.
Challenge and opportunity for the future
In order to ensure that the «Water is Life» project can continue to build new wells and maintain existing ones, the St. Martin Foundation has to rely heavily on donations. Every contribution helps ensure that people in Cameroon have permanent access to clean drinking water. Since the administration and management of the Foundation are carried out by Alfred Müller AG in Baar, the full amount of every donation flows directly into the project.