Precious Water | 36.90

Most villages in northern Ghana still rely on surface water like this river as their main water source. Early November (when this photo was taken) was the beginning of the dry season, and this river had almost dried up. It would be completely dry soon after and remain dry until the rain season starts in April/May. During this long dry season, women and children often need to walk for hours just to find some water. Needless to say, surface water sources are highly vulnerable to contamination. The cows in this photo had just urinated in the water. A few minutes later, three women came by and fetched water from the same location. This water would be used for drinking and other household use without being boiled or sanitized. One of the more severe dangers of drinking surface water is Guinea Worm, an extremely painful parasite that has been eradicated in most countries but is still Endemic in a few African countries (including Ghana).

A major portion of the funds we raised for W.A.T.E.R. went toward drilling clean water boreholes in several villages in northern Ghana.