Many people in Zambia lack access to clean and safe water, even more so in rural communities. The lack of access to clean water has an impact on health, wellbeing, education as well as economic activities essential to alleviate poverty.

In the communities that we work, the task of fetching water is primarily the responsibility of women and children who travel long distances to access water which is not always clean. This requires time and Labour that could be better spent on income generating activities or attendance of school classes. In other cases, shallow wells are dug near homesteads which are often prone to contamination and unsafe for drinking posing health risks.

In light of the water challenges rural communities in Western Zambia face, Zambia Works runs a programme to increase access to clean water by the provision of boreholes to adversely affected communities. Over 170 boreholes have been drilled with hand pumps installed. This has had a positive impact on the lives of the people in these communities. Illnesses have reduced as a result of improved hygiene and clean drinking water. The people stay hydrated which is even more important because of the predominantly hot weather conditions in the landscape we are focused on. In addition, the community borehole water is used for cooking as well as irrigation of vegetable gardens improving their livelihood.