Is It Possible for Nonprofit Water Organizations to Find Water Where There Is None?
Almost 40 percent of the world’s land mass receives little rainfall. About 2 billion people live in these areas.1 In these dry areas of the world, how do people find water?
Most often, these people walk miles to find water and the water they find is contaminated and in short supply.
In these areas, there is often water to be found underground—way underground. Many nonprofit water organizations try to help, but the results don’t last long. Oftentimes, the wells are drilled too shallow to keep them flowing in the driest seasons of the year.
There is an easy solution and one that GFA utilizes. Through Jesus Wells, GFA has helped bring year-round water to many villages in Asia. Each of these wells serves an average of 300 people. Sometimes wells are dug 600 or more feet down, whatever depth is needed for year-round water access.
Another problem often faced by nonprofit water organizations is trace element contamination. Sometimes it isn’t contaminated water that hurts people, but the naturally occurring elements in the water. For example, heavy metals can leach into the water and cause health problems or local industry may be contaminating the water systems.
This was the issue facing four Asian villages. Their water was contaminated with chemicals. GFA pastors in the area arranged for Jesus wells to be installed and these wells now bring clean water to approximately 5300 people.
Jesus Wells have been used to free communities from water insecurity. They are conveniently located for community access and the water is freely available to anyone, regardless of religion, class, or background.
1 Global Drylands: A UN system-wide response. United Nations Environment Management Group. https://www.unep-wcmc.org/system/dataset_file_fields/files/000/000/091/original/Global-Drylands-FINAL-LR.pdf?1398440625. Accessed November 25, 2019.ssed November 25, 2019.