Well Drilling

After completing 36 hand dug, open wells which provide water to the nomads and their herds we realized the need for a closed system to prevent contamination.  A drilled well would be a closed system, but Niger’s north has no drilling rigs and to bring them from the south is prohibitively expensive.  Drilled wells also require a source of power, which is what led us to develop solar manufacturing capabilities for the nomads.  They now can build their own solar panels, greatly reducing the cost of these, and increasing availability.  Our next step is to purchase a shallow well drilling rig and send it and a crew to train a team of nomads to drill their own wells.  We will drill relatively shallow–under 200′ deep wells to tap into the rechargeable water table.  This, rather than tapping the 600′ deep non replenish-able mineral water, has two advantages.  Shallower wells require less expensive equipment, are easier for unskilled personnel to learn and tap into limited water which will avoid concentrating a large population around a single water source.  This would deplete pasture in the region requiring the nomadic herders to find a new way of making a living.  Our goal is to perpetuate their cultural traditions by modification which can allow them to continue their herding economy and to create a business through which they can fund other essential needs, like health care and education.