Ethiopia Water Project - Phase III


Our World Community Service Committee relayed many sobering facts of Ethiopian life caused by contaminated water. For example, about 500,000 Ethiopian children die each year from diseases caused by contaminated water. But Rotary works. The money we raise for the EWP III project before December 31, 2007, will grow with matching grants from the District, then Rotary International, then World Vision and then Conrad Hilton Foundation to turn each dollar into 8. This means that if we raise $150,000 we will be able to build more than 100 wells and provide clean healthy water for thousands of people.

For more information click on: Ethiopia Water Project.

Status of Ethiopia Water Project, Phase III (EWP 3)
By PDG Arvind Phukan, Ph.D.,P.E, Task Leader EWP 3, Rotary Club of Tacoma #8

Due to the long rainy season, administrative problems and unforeseen technical difficulties, the EWP 3 project Committee in Addis Ababam, comprised of representatives from Host Finot Club, Ethiopia Water Task Force (WTF) and World Vision Ethiopia (WVE), could not select the qualified contractors through competitive bidding process until April, 2010. The Project Committee has selected the contractors at three project sites (e.g., Gurage, Sibu and Minjar) included under EWP 3, which are now under construction.

The Project Committee, along with a hired water and sanitation engineer, will overview the contractor’s work regularly and will maintain records along with representative photographs on the contractor’s work as they progress.  The contractors will prepare quarterly invoices on completed works which will be checked and approved by the Host Club and Project Committee. Approved invoices with items which are identified as TRF’s funded items will be submitted to Dr. Arvind Phukan, Task Leader, Tacoma# 8. He will check the invoices and submit to the treasurer of Tacoma #8 for payment to World Vision, US (WV-US). Then WV-US will match their contributions to the fund paid by Tacoma #8 and pay the approved amount to the contractors through WVE.

The project sites located in three zones consisting of scattered poor villages are briefly described under the following headings:

1. Gurage Zone Project: The region is located about 85 miles southwest of Addis Ababa. The project consists of two villages where springs and one dug well will be developed. On April 30, 2010, the author visited one of these villages named Aggelo where the spring water development is under construction. It is expected that all planned construction works will be completed by August/September, 2010. Close to 10,000 people along with 5000 livestock, are expected to to benefit from this project. The following are typical photographs of a spring under construction, trench for the pipeline to bring water to the reservoir and view of the communities from the top of the hill (around 3000 ft. elevation) etc.

2. Sibu/Sire Project: It is located about 172 miles west of Addis Ababa. A contractor was hired in April, 2010 to develop three springs with  gravity flow through a distribution pipes system, water reservoir and community water points to two villages. The project will impact about 22,000 people, along with 4000 livestock. The project will be completed by October, 2010.

3. Minjar Project: The project is located about 75 miles southeast of Addis Ababa. A contractor is hired to place two deep wells (about 900 ft.) which will supply water to two villages. These villages are located about 5 miles apart and the water supply, through gravity, will involve collection chambers, reservoir and pipeline to the nearest point of the community. The project will be completed in March, 2011. The implementation of this project is expected to benefit more than 25, 000 people and 12,500 livestock.

Budget: The total budget of EWP 3 is $800,000.