The LifeWells Project Overview
Water Conditions in Ghana
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Ghana is a beautiful country steeped in its culture, art, and history. There has been significant progress in providing basic water services at the national level. However, only 36 percent of people use a safely managed water source. A few facts about the water conditions in Ghana:
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6 million people don't have clean water. That's 1 in 5 of the population.
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Almost 1,000 children under 5 die each year from diarrhea caused by dirty water and poor toilets.
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Nearly 23 million people don't have a decent toilet. That's over 8 in every 10 people.
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60% of water bodies are polluted due to illegal mining and other activities; with many in critical condition
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Deforestation and illegal gold mining further exacerbate the problem by further polluting the limited water supply. Seventy-three percent of the population, or about 23 million people, use water that may not follow sanitary standards. This would mean that only 3.9 million people in Ghana can access water that is safe.
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LifeWells is a “potable water” project in northern Ghana engaged in drilling deep wells in remote village areas particularly north of the Country. LifeWells is both an infrastructure and community accountability project. Prior to the installation of a well communities must meet specific criteria:
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A verified need for access to potable water;
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Community participation and engagement: The community led by their Chiefs, Elders, and or recognized Leaders will identify a central location for the well that is accessible to the community;
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Shared Responsibility: The wells must be maintained through a communal agreement.
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The community must agree to invest in the development of all necessary infrastructure to support the wells, which may include piping, water storage, & electricity.
The LifeWells project team will provide training in general water conservation, preservation, well installation, and maintenance.