Well Water Project
IFC has purchased a portable well drill (LS 200) and has trained seven capable refugees to operate and maintain the equipment. Training local Indonesians increases the effectiveness because they can go into regions that westerners can’t. The wells can be drill relatively inexpensively and by local teams. There are numerous needs for wells in the North Sulawesi and North Maluku provinces. The displaced who are resettling need wells for their new villages.
The transmigration sites need water wells drilled. The majority of the villages are on the sea coast and the LS 200 are perfect for these locations. It has been shown its success and durability in water projects all over the world and is relatively simple to operate. There are numerous trainers who can come to Indonesia to do an LS 200 well drilling training. The LS 200 is portable (it ships in a 2 ft x 3 ft x 8 ft plywood box) and able to drill a six inch hole 200 feet deep. It is specifically developed for work in remote regions.
This region is full of islands and the LS 200 can be transported by small boat from island to island. In 2001 IFC partnered with Lifewater International volunteers to successfully complete four water well projects in North Sulawesi.
We hired a well drilling company to drill a deep well at the Paal Dua refugee camp in Manado and one well at a resettlement site in Tondano. The Tondano well provides water to two settlements. In addition, we brought water from a public water line to a third refugee resettlement site. Upon completing their training in February 2003, the new drilling team has successfully drilled water wells for two refugee sites in the Manado region and four wells in the Poso area of central Sulawesi.
This team traveled extensively throughout Halmahera to drill needed water wells for families returning to their homelands and resettlement areas. The first well (bore) completed in North Maluku was in the Muslim village of Seki. It was a great effort to get this well completed but the effort provided needed water for this village. IFC drill staff also repaired an abandoned water system that pumped lake water for washing clothes and irrigation for this village.
The team also went to Banda Aceh to provide help after the Tsunami. This team worked long hours to provide safe water for the survivors of this horrible natural disaster.
Clean water is necessary to good health and is often taken for granted in the developed world. Lifewater International has been a great help with training and technical advice. The team has drilled over 25 wells. Water needs continue to be critical in almost every refugee center.
The water projects have made a big transition—we sold the equipment to the leader of “Team Bore”. This is a needed and important change—they needed to become independent and remain a partner with us. We contract them to drill the wells we determine are needed. This is like your child growing up and leaving the home. They were trained and capable on their own.
The IFC staff in Manado and Kusuri have completed some hygiene training in each camp and several villages in Halmahera. A large clay jars that filters out impurities in being manufactured and distributed in villages. The filter system is a popular program.
The Hygiene Training has been given to our staff several times and also given in many local villages in Halmahera. Hygiene practices are important to good health.