In 2004 the late Fr. Pirmin Ngolle, OSB, of Hanga Abbey pioneered a clean water project which now is enjoyed by five villages of a population of more than 22,000 people. The project involved getting water from the mountains to the lowland, coming down by gravity, a distance of 8 kilometers (5 miles). Pipes, water reservoirs (storage tanks) were had by the donations from the US. Villagers dug the trenches and laid pipes.

The impact of the clean water has been remarkable. About 78% of the total population that sought medical attention for intestinal problems has been reduced. Fewer cases are reported in the dispensary that serves these villages that has the clean water. It is a joy for all the villagers. Much time is saved in families especially women who had to spend a lot of time to fetch water for a mile or two even four. Now all over a suddern they can fetch water a distance of 50 feet or 100 meters!

Thanks to all the donors who have made this possible saving many lives of the children who would die of diarrhea and other abdominal problems.

The late Fr. Pirmin inspecting hand dug trench to lay pipes

Laying pipes was not that easy!

Steel pipes were laid in rocky places and across valleys

 

In some points of the pipe line, in the valleys, pipes burst because of high pressure

Big, small, and medium sized tanks have been built.

And people now enjoy clean water within a short distance.

..

 

 

 

THE NEED IS GREAT.  It is nice to realize the impact of the clean water. A lot of abdominal problems have been reduced. There has been less use of intestinal drugs by 78% to villages that has the clean water.

While the achiement is remarkable it prompts one to think of those many others who do not have access to safe drinking water. Still many villages in southern Tanzania that have no clean water. They still use river water and open hand dug wells for all their domestic use. Many children still die due to infections from unclean water.

OUR NEXT STEP.  So now efforts are made to have more villages get clean water by drilling wells and installing hand pumps. It costs about $5,500 to $7,000 for a well to be completed. The expenses involve pump price, labor & technical work, hiring drilling equipment, depth of a well and type of soil drilled.

Your support of the clean water project in southern Tanzania will be greatly appreciated. You can send your donation to: 

St. Maurus Mission Appeal, 4880 Bristol Ave. Klmath Falls, OR 97603.

OR you can donate by credit card or Paypal by using the “Donate” button on the front page of this website.