Repair and maintenance of hand water pumps
The project in brief
The objective of the project is to contribute to an effective and pragmatic response to the problem of access to drinking water in the South Omo Valley, Ethiopia.
To do this, the objective is first to precisely geolocate, document and then map the defective hand pumps within the region. In a second step, these defective pumps will either be repaired where possible or replaced with a new model.
In the long term, the goal is to train a local person who will be responsible for keeping these pumps in working order, with the support of the association.
To carry out this project, For Equity can count on two Swiss volunteers , Joëlle Zahnd and Baptiste Marmier, who are going to live there for 6 months with their two daughters. Their goal will be to launch this important project , which will then be ensured over the long term by For Equity.
Access to the presentation file
Additional details
Over the past few decades, numerous water pumps have been installed by the Ethiopian government, as well as local and international organizations. The boreholes drilled provide access to naturally filtered groundwater sources that are less polluted than surface water.
Present on site in spring 2024 and January 2025, we noted that a significant number of these pumps are non-operational due to minor maintenance issues. The aim is therefore to set up and promote the repair and replacement of key parts in these infrastructures (for example, regular replacement of seals).
This situation forces women and girls to travel several kilometers to reach water points, which can jeopardize their health and education. In addition, the unsanitary water drawn directly from rivers that these populations drink is the main source of potentially fatal childhood illnesses , such as diarrhea, allergies, and even cholera.
There is therefore major water stress in the Omo Valley, which this project aims to alleviate through the repair and medium- and long-term maintenance of the network of hand water pumps.
Project progress
October 2025
First 4 pumps repaired
After several months of work, we are proud to announce the repair of the first four pumps. Several parts were replaced, and some pumps required almost complete disassembly. Congratulations to the entire family for this great accomplishment. We are looking forward to what's next, now that the repairs are underway!
September 2025
Precise prospecting of pumps to be repaired
During this period, several defective pumps were identified, the necessary work assessed, and the degree of urgency determined. With this valuable information, we can now choose which ones to focus on for initial work and source the necessary parts.
August 2025
Implementation of the project with the authorities
This period was primarily spent discussing and working with the authorities to adequately define the project framework. The main challenge was to focus on repairing the pumps rather than completely replacing them.
Early August 2025
1st outing in the field
An initial field trip is conducted to meet with various tribes and authorities. The goal is to conduct an initial reconnaissance to identify areas to focus on, as well as to get to know the various stakeholders with whom the collaboration will take place over the coming months.
July 2025
Arrival on site
Swiss volunteers Joëlle Zahnd and Baptiste Marmier, accompanied by their two daughters, Eloane (11) and Aïna (8), set up camp in Jinka, where they will be living for the next six months. As part of a sabbatical, they are taking part in this major solidarity project with the rural communities of the Omo Valley. They are welcomed by Mike, our on-site project coordinator.
Summer 2025
Project development and fundraising
Starting in August 2025, a Swiss volunteer family will head to Ethiopia to begin this project on behalf of For Equity. This required an initial donation, and we sincerely thank everyone who helped make this possible. Thank you!
