A newly announced partnership between international non-profit organization Well Aware and INTERA, a Geophysical and Water Resource Consulting Firm, is slated to increase successful water well projects and access to clean water by 50%. The Colorado School of Mines will play a significant role, contributing advanced geophysical instrumentation engineered specifically for humanitarian applications.
The joint venture will utilize Well Aware’s vast expertise in water well projects, INTERA’s extensive background in geophysics, and collaboration with The Colorado School of Mines’ faculty. “Through this partnership and collaboration, Well Aware expects to complete 50% more groundwater well projects and impact 50% more people than with today’s current resources – setting a new industry standard in the nonprofit water sector,” said Sarah Evans, the founder of Well Aware.
Use of the advanced geophysical tool, a low-cost direct-current resistivity meter, is projected to ramp up subsurface mapping capabilities and allow the groups to tabulate an extensive hydrogeological database not available previously. This invaluable advancement will enable the identification of well drilling locations with greater efficiency and accuracy.
Evans alludes to the challenges they face, including sourcing expertise and data in Kenya, as well as the hefty costs of surveying and determining the viability of each project location. Utilizing the new equipment, they will drastically cut down survey times from a timeline of one to two months to two to three days.
Though Well Aware receives as many as 200 water project requests each year, their ability to undertake these initiatives is currently limited. The new partnership aims to significantly accelerate the qualification process. This year alone, Well Aware aims to provide 25,000 more people with lasting clean water. This number is expected to grow exponentially year over year with increased funding.
This month, the equipment will be put to use in seven new water projects. Five are located in Laikipia and two in Isiolo. Many involved communities currently struggle with unreliable access to clean water, triggering high rates of malnutrition and water-borne illnesses. This imminent progress will bring substantial impact, inviting families to settle closer to the water sources and promoting healthier lives and increased job opportunities.
Michelle Pedrazas, a geoscientist at INTERA, added, “We are honored to partner with Well Aware and bring our geophysics expertise to Kenya to increase confidence in drilling targets and increase the number of water well projects they can take on.” This pioneering partnership and the supporting INTERA Ron Lantz Stewardship Grant are designed to revolutionize the approach to identifying and drilling water sources in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Well Aware is a women-led international non-profit organization devoted to mitigating water scarcity issues and implementing sustainable water solutions in East Africa. They maintain a 100% success rate and have developed an innovative app, Well Beyond, to ensure the longevity of rural water systems. More information can be found at www.wellawareworld.org.
Source: Press Release