About

The vision of Water is Basic is to drill a thriving, clean water well in every village in Sudan.  Our goal is to move toward this vision by being efficient, effective and good partners with the local Sudanese.

Click HERE for detailed information about our mission, strategy, organizational plan and goals.

Consider these facts:
Just one flush of a toilet in the west uses more water than most Africans have to performs an entire day’s washing, cleaning, cooking and drinking.

UNESCO has calculated that to ensure that basic human needs are met; each person needs access to 5 to 13 gallons of water free of harmful contaminants each and every day.

Over 70% of the population has no access to safe water, and only 18% have a toilet.

According to the UN, waterborne diseases kill 4 children worldwide per minute.

So what does this safe, clean water mean to the people of Sudan?

According to USAID, one in every four children born in southern Sudan dies before the age of five. Half of those deaths are from water-related illnesses that are easily preventable.
So what does this safe, clean water mean to the people of Sudan?

Due to civil war, millions of Sudanese fled their country.  With a currently stable climate of peace, many refugees are returning to their homeland. In 2007 alone, 250,000 Sudanese refugees were expected to return to their homeland, but they are returning to areas with no infrastructure or services, especially water and sanitation. A minimum of 20,000 wells will need to be drilled in Sudan to provide even the most minimal and basic relief.

Today, Sudanese women and children spend hours every day bringing water to their families. Some are attacked by wild animals on their journeys while others are robbed or raped.  Time spent hauling water robs children of formal schooling.  And increased rates of malnutrition, anemia and scoliosis rob them of their health.

As the Sudanese people are able to provide the basic need of clean water, they witness the health of their people transformed.  Death rates fall.  The time once taken to retrieve water now allows children to attend school.  Education rates rise.  Ancient conflicts about water rights and access become obsolete.  Peace sweeps through areas where water shortages once caused conflict.

Through Water is Basic, it only takes $1.50 to change someone’s life for the next 20 years.  So how are we providing safe, clean water in Sudan?

Water is Basic operates two drilling rigs that are staffed with Sudanese nationals who have been trained to drill, operate and repair their own water wells, which empowers them to impact and sustain their communities.

The cost for a complete drilling rig and preparation of the drilling crews takes about 6 months and costs $200,000.  Once in operation, a rig can drill one bore hole every week for a mere $3,300 per well, bringing fresh water to some 2,000 people. Since beginning, we have more than 200 wells in south Sudan – those wells have forever transformed the living conditions of roughly 400,000 people.

Please, click here to help provide clean drinking water in Sudan.