News

Drilling news for 2011
In the past four years we have drilled over 105 wells which have provided fresh water to villages, hospitals and schools in five different states inNigeria.

Each well serves between 600-1000 people, depending on the yield of the well and the population within reasonable distance. Based on 800 per well, that’s over 84,000 people who now have clean water. SSE is truly making a difference in the lives of the Nigerian People.

In addition, during 2009, H2O Nigeria also drilled 12 private wells, paid for by the recipient. Profit generated from these wells goes to help support the drilling of the wells in villages. It takes about 3 private wells to pay for the materials and labor for a village well.

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Inaugural H2O Nigeria Water Summit         
On December 17, 2009, representatives from villages, mission organizations, and local ministries joined together for the inaugural H2O Nigeria Water Summit. Its purpose was reflection and education: Reflection in that it was an opportunity for village recipients to share how their borehole has changed lives; Education in that time was dedicated to re-emphasize the importance of proper hygiene, sanitation, and well maintenance.

Forty-three representatives attended.  This was a great turn-out, considering the distance, cost, and other challenges for many to travel all the way to Jos.  Without exception, the village reps talked of the significant benefits a borehole brought to their village. Their children no longer walked for hours back and forth to fetch water. Due to the time saved, more of them could attend school. Fewer children were taken to local hospitals for treatment.  People consistently spoke of the dignity it brought them, not having to fetch water from the same places where animals drink (and do other things animals tend to do).

Several village leaders, all Muslims, represented the Bishe community. They received a borehole because of one of their native sons, a Christian, advocated for them. They expressed wonderment that Christians would show such love and concern as the borehole represented.  They were extremely grateful. It was a powerful testimony and an opportunity to break down barriers. These men graciously sat through the time of celebration and singing, most of which focused on worshipping Jesus Christ.

Representatives of another community carried water with them. When asked why, they said they were so happy with their clean water and the health it had brought, they drank only from their own borehole.  They didn’t trust the city water…and they were smart not to.

WaterAid, an international agency, sent a representative who spoke to the attendees about the importance of sanitation and hygiene. H2O Nigeria, in partnership with groups like WaterAid and other indigenous organizations, will continue to stress these issues. Without proper practices in these areas, the health benefits of clean water are undermined.

The summit was also a great opportunity for the staff of H2O Nigeria to learn how we can improve. A significant finding was that many communities still need help in the management of their borehole use. As a result, we will increase our on-going interaction with the village water committees for training and management.

One last striking impression was the vast unmet need for clean water in other villages. Many of the reps ended their interview with a plea that boreholes were needed in the villages around them. They have enjoyed the benefit of their well and want others to do the same. In some cases, so many people come from long distances that the line for a borehole is quite long.

Over and over throughout the day, people expressed gratitude to God and SSE for their borehole. And when they thanked SSE, they were thanking you. Without the generous investment from Vineyard Community Church to purchase the equipment and form H2O Nigeria; without the generous gifts from churches, businesses, and individuals over the past two years, SSE could not have drilled 60+ wells for villages, schools, hospitals, and other at-risk communities. This represents water for over 35,000 people and statistically, the saving of nearly 200 lives, most of them children.

Would you consider a further investment in SSE?  Help us continue bringing this life-saving benefit to those in desperate need.  Over 1,800,000 people die every year from water borne diseases, the vast majority of them children. The gift of water costs less than $0.01 per day for one person.  Clean water saves lives, and it is an incredible witness to these people.  It proves that they are not forgotten.

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As of the end of September 2008, H2O Nigeria has completed 21 borehole wells.
These wells are located in 3 states; Plateau (14), Kaduna (5), Nasarawa (2). So far, there has been only one low yielding well drilled, in the village of Igbaji. This well was redrilled and an excellent yielding well resulted. The drilling team has a 95% success rate, 5% over the projected success rate of 90%. The average yield of the wells completed is 1.31 liters per second, which converts to over 20 gallons per minute. This is a very good result as a handpump cannot pump faster than the well recharges itself, i.e., when you pump, no matter how long you pump (or how fast), you get water. [12.17.08]

Funds for another well raised by a Mason, OH business!
Thank you to Kim Harper’s Salon and Spa located on Socialville-Foster Rd. in Mason, Ohio. Kim and her amazing staff supplied their hairstyling and spa services for a day and donated the revenue to the H2O Nigeria project. They worked incredibly hard and raised more than enough to fund an entire well!! Thank you for your sacrifice and for making a difference bringing clean water to another village in Nigeria. [04.27.08]

For information on Kim Harper’s Salon and Spa, check out their website at www.kimharpersalonandspa.com.

Water is flowing from 8 new boreholes! Boreholes have been completed in the villages of Buyo, Kaza, Kumel, Kisasu, Igbaji, Ibak Akoh, Kisaloi, and Bagingi. All but one are very good wells! The community with the low yield well has been revisited and a successful well has now been completed.
Below are the GPS Coordinates of each community.
Buyo Community: Elevation- 2787 ft., North 10.10401, East 008.66991
Kaza Community: Elevation 3016 ft., North 10.03864, East 008.72036
Kumel Community: Elevation 3090 ft., North 09.98904, East 008.67151
Buhit Kisasu Community: Elevation 3085ft., North 09.98916, East 008.67149
Ibgaji Community: Elevation 3473 ft., North 09.99022, East 008.71865
Igbakoh Community: TBA
Kisaloi Community: Elevation 3858 ft., North 09.96306, East 008.72055
Bagingi Community: Elevation 4297 ft., North 09.93004, East 008.81412