Ethiopia Clean Water Project

Ethiopia

By rehabilitating broken boreholes and facilitating long-term maintenance, this carbon offsetting project is providing communities with a sustainable supply of clean water.

Project

Summary.

For many people living in Ethiopia access to clean water is not available outside of cities. This means people collect water from rivers and lakes, risking water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid.

This carbon offsetting project fixes boreholes that have fallen into disrepair in order to provide clean water to communities whilst also providing funding mechanisms to ensure long-term maintenance. As a result, families no longer have to boil water, which saves on firewood, prevents carbon emissions and reduces indoor smoke pollution. The project is managed by female-led WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) committees who oversee the access to the boreholes and provide work and empowerment to women in the region.

Certified

Under

Aligning with the

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Instances of illness and disease caused by drinking dirty water is reduced within the project areas. It is estimated 97 cases of diarrhea and six fatalities are avoided each year.

SDG 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

The project provides safe drinking water to communities. Each year, an estimated 12,487,733 litres of clean water are provided to project beneficiaries.

SDG 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss

The use of non-renewable biomass from forests has been reduced, assisting with the preservation of existing forest stock, protecting natural forest eco-systems and wildlife habitats.

The result

The project maintains 41 boreholes.
Access to clean water improves the health of communities and reduces the chance of catching water-borne diseases.
A fully functioning borehole providing clean water. This results in better health and reduces the pressure on local health centres.
It also reduces the risk of water collection in sometimes crocodile-infested waters!
The time saved in wood collection means women and children have more time for work and education.
The WASH committee run classes teaching children the importance of hygiene and hand-washing.