Water is Life International Schimpf

In 2018, Water Is Life changed strategies from installing conventional hand pumps that served approximately 500 people per unit to solar powered Water systems that could serve thousands of people from one system. The cost of solar panels and pumps dropped significantly so that the average cost per person to provide safe drinking Water was lower for solar systems compared to drilling a well and installing a hand pump. The basic concept Is to pump Water from the new well to elevated storage tanks using a solar- powered electric pump. From the collection tanks, Water Is distributed through buried plastic pipes to multiple Water points with spigots where women and children can collect the clean Water by just turning a tap. This eliminates the need for pumping and greatly reduces the time and energy that women and girls used to collect Water daily from unprotected sources or very distant pumps. Since 2018, Water Is Life has installed 15 solar systems at a cost of 700,582 which serves approximately 112,000 people in remote areas. In 2021, Water Is Life installed three solar systems in the wando genet district in southern ethiopia at the invitation of the local government. All three projects including drilling a new well and outfitting it with a solar system. The wosha soyama project provided clean Water to a school, clinic and community serving approximately 13,000 people at a cost of 39,960. The wotera gendo project Is located in the highlands and includes the ergo school and community with approximately 9800 beneficiaries at a cost of 50,829. The yuwo project serves 11,175 people at a one-time cost of 55,727. These projects are life-changing for the community with a marked reduction in waterborne disease and increased time to do more productive things. In 2022, Water Is Life International installed four solar-powered Water systems in southern ethiopia. These projects served 6,510 beneficiaries in the wolicha boremo community near ziway and 42,660 beneficiaries in lalesa, edo gudino and alembada communities in west arsi. These projects are life-changing for the community, and particularly for the women and girls who are tasked with collecting Water. A Water spigot has replaced a hand pump which saves time for the women and girls to do more productive things. Their health will also improve with a significant reduction in waterborne diseases. These projects are the last to be implemented by Water Is Life after completing more than 400 Water projects since beginning operations in 2016. Water Is Life International Is being dissolved but the work in ethiopia will continue with other partners.