Ghanaians Benefit from  Church’s Clean Water Projects

Completion of 32 clean water systems was celebrated in several villages located throughout the Assin South District of Ghana. Residents came together to show their gratitude for the life-changing undertaking which will enhance water quality and the general health for thousands of citizens in the area.

LDS Charities, the humanitarian branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, partnered with the local government to provide strong teams for the projects, including water program specialists, site monitors, local engineers, contractors and water authorities. 

This clean water initiative of the Church benefits people from all faiths, countries and ethnicities, empowering communities whose citizens suffer from limited amounts of clean water.
As residents of Adianom gathered around their new borehole (well), expressions of joy and appreciation were heard among the villagers.

“This makes life so much easier for us,” one resident in the gathering said. “Thank God and the Church for going to all of this effort to bring us fresh water.”

Once completed, the water facilities belong to the community. The residents are responsible for the operation, care, maintenance and repairs. They decide how they want to manage the facilities, electing a water committee to act on their behalf.   

“Please take good care of the pump,” the district chief executive told residents in Kassim. “Keep money in the bank account so you can pay for repairs.”

Elder James Bullock, a humanitarian missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, explained that the villagers must learn to be self-sufficient in their clean water needs. 
“We want them to take ownership of the water system,” said Elder Bullock. “We have them choose reliable members from the community to set a nominal fee for each container of water used by the villagers. That money is put into a dedicated bank account for maintenance and repair of the water system.”

“If they will faithfully collect funds for water use, the water system will last for many years,” Elder Bullock explained.  

 “Water is life,” said the village chief. “Our stream is contaminated. We are so happy we no longer need to go to the hospital because of sickness from the water.”

More than 5,000 people live in the surrounding area. A heavily-traveled street keeps many from crossing over to an existing borehole. To give residents easier access to the clean water, two pumping stations were constructed. One is near the borehole, the other is directly across the street, where water is diverted through a pipe under the street.

The chief of Nkyensedamu said there was a time when one of the children in their village was very sick. He had contracted typhoid fever from drinking the unclean water. 
“We made a plea for assistance and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to our aid by funding the construction of a borehole,” he said.
The water at the newly-built station contains large amounts of iron, so a charcoal filter was installed at the borehole for purification.  
Seventy people live in the village, but neighbors come from several nearby villages to use the fresh water.

Adankwaman Senior High School in the Assin South District has also benefitted from LDS Charities’ clean water initiative with the installation of a new borehole for the students and faculty.   
Jonathan Adanuvor, assistant headmaster at the school, said it has been a challenge to provide clean water since the school’s inception in 1983.  

“Potable water has needed to be brought in these many years. The students have suffered,” he said. “We applaud this life-saving project and promise we will maintain the wonderful gift you have given to us.”
More than one billion people in the world lack access to clean water, according to the World Health Organization. Those without clean water often suffer from water-borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea and typhoid.  
LDS Charities’ clean water initiative attempts to improve the health of communities by giving basic hygiene training, teaching community development skills, and providing access to sustainable potable water sources. Depending on local needs and circumstances, these water sources include wells (or boreholes), water storage and delivery systems, and water purification systems.