Frequently asked questions

A well costs approximately $7,800 Australian Dollars. This amount also includes all hydro-geographical costs and all education matters (HIV and AIDS, family planning, bookkeeping and maintenance skills).

In the rural and remote villages of northern Tigray Province in Ethiopia.

WellWishers has set a village criteria of an average of 225 people to a well (although we target more wherever possible), with a current return walking distance to collect water of two hours excluding waiting time (rarely less than 30 minutes). Our Ethiopian partner NGO REST conducts village research and evaluation plus hydro-geological surveys. The final selection is done in conjunction with the village.

Hand Dug Wells are constructed in villages where no other technology will work, or where it is necessary to carry all construction equipment and materials in by hand because of terrain.

WellWishers pledges that over 96% of donations are sent to Ethiopia and that all the money is used for geological surveys, site selection, village evaluation, design and construction, monitoring, and extensive education in health and sanitation work, including training in latrine construction.

Yes, donations over $2.00 are tax deductible, provided you pay tax in Australia.

No — there is no payment to any village or villager.

No. WellWishers has total respect for the people's culture and religious beliefs, without any interference.

WellWishers receives detailed reports from REST on site location, village populations and follow-up monitoring, plus inspection reports from an independent NGO that has been working in Ethiopia for more than 30 years.

Approximately 170 people benefit from each new well, although this number can increase if villagers allow nearby villages to use it.

The villagers themselves form a six-person Water and Sanitation Committee (WATSAN), with a majority of women. They are given instruction in maintenance and bookkeeping, supplied with initial spare parts and an accounts book, and appoint a caretaker. Villagers also construct a stone wall surround to keep out animals and an overflow drain usually directed toward irrigating gardens.

These wells have been built for over 30 years and have proven the most effective way of providing water to this area. The wells are capped and fitted with a hand-operated pump. If there is a blockage or breakdown, the cap can be removed and buckets can be used, ensuring continuation of clean water supply. The pump unit is simple to maintain and easy for a child to use.

Villagers dig by hand down to rock, which can be up to fifteen metres deep. Internal scaffolding provides safety. Upon reaching rock, the excavated hole (about 1800 mm diameter) is lined with stone found locally by villagers. REST then blasts through rock until water level is reached, and digs a further five or six metres below the water table. A well may end up 20 to 25 metres deep. All work is carried out by Ethiopians.

REST was formed 40 years ago, with 33 years of that being involved with Community Aid Abroad (now Oxfam Australia). The wells programme in its current design (post-1995) was jointly instigated by REST and Oxfam Australia. This relationship gave us the confidence to start supporting the programme in 2002.

We never know for sure, but in the decades that we’ve been funding construction of wells, only about 2% of sites were found not to have water.

1. REST hydrogeologists build their own database using available regional water information.
2. REST discusses needy-village priorities with the Bureau of Water Resources.
3. REST visits nominated villages and uses local knowledge about groundwater.
4. The proposed site must be within two kilometres walking distance of beneficiaries.
5. REST examines rock type, fracturing, recharge potential, catchment and vegetation.
6. If needed, REST arranges an aerial survey.
7. After cross-checking the above, the community and REST sign an agreement.

Villagers provide storage facilities, labour, stone and sand during construction, and construct a surrounding stone wall to keep out livestock. The WATSAN committee carries out maintenance, keeps accounts for user-family contributions, buys replacement parts and employs its own caretaker.

REST has instigated an integrated programme of tree planting to reduce erosion, terracing to harvest water and slow flows, check dams in gullies, dams and irrigation channels. Major buildings such as schools and health clinics are also fitted with gutters and rainwater tanks.

Tests are carried out regularly to check water quality and, to date, water from HDWs has adhered to World Health Organization standards.

The Water Conservation Department of each Woreda has annual water testing carried out. If the WATSAN Committee has any doubt, it can request a water test from the Woreda.

Yes. The programme uses water testing, community training, maintenance checks and water-use controls.

• Water quality is tested when the water table is reached.
• Villagers are taught how to check monthly for signs of quality problems.
• Water and health authorities usually check the supply twice annually.
• Wells are usually opened for a maximum of seven hours a day to sustain water levels.
• Villagers are trained to maintain the wells and inspect the pump monthly.
• REST checks maintenance eight to twelve months after completion.
• Check dams help slow flows after rain, allowing groundwater replenishment.

The theoretical life of a HDW is 15 years. Many wells have now been in operation for longer than that, due mainly to good management by the Water and Sanitation Committee (WATSAN). Out of more than 7,000 wells to date (not all by WellWishers), less than 3% have gone dry, mainly due to overuse or varying groundwater levels.

This can occur but is usually less than 5% of the time. In these cases, further survey work is done to place a well in another position that may unfortunately be some distance from the village.

The decision is up to each village. Most villages with HDWs charge each family a small amount per month, usually about 15 cents, for use of the well. The money is collected by WATSAN and used for spare parts and employing the caretaker.

Most villages allow outsiders to use the well under special circumstances. Strict hours of operation are enforced to avoid over-utilising water tables, but circumstances such as ill health and medication needs are treated specially.

The need for family planning is something we became very aware of during the first visit to Ethiopia in 2003 and we have been encouraging it ever since. Based on anecdotal information, the average number of children per family in the previous generation was about six or seven. Today it is three or four, while younger women say they plan to have two or three, with the support of their husbands.