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Well Ebargaz

The struggle for drinking water is still bitter reality for the Tuareg nomads and without any wells no pasture farming is possible.

After the wet season the area surrounding Ebargaz becomes verdant very fast and is considered a valuable food source. Up to now this region was only minimally used by the Tuareg, since the next properly working well is 25 km off. The locals had pointed out this situation to ENMIGRAW Suisse.


In order to solve these problems we planned the Ebargaz well. One of the most challenging difficulties in this project was the depth of this well. So as to grant stability as well as security, the walls had to be well supported when digging, which involved more and bigger efforts.





Thanks to the proceeds of the „move4water“ event of the Fitness Center in Wetzikon and also by the support of various sponsors we were able to start the construction in January.

 

By means of a simple rope winch, bucket by bucket of sand and small stones were hoisted from the well.

Despite lose scree material, the digging work was advancing well. At the time a depth of 25 meters was reached and we were expecting to come upon water in about 35-40 meters depths. 


 

 

It was a wearisome job to transport small stones and fine sand to the construction site, in order to properly mix the concrete for the rings.


 

 

Then, the concrete was used to stabilize the well top. Big stones and rocks were carted in, in order to fill the sink. With the aid of pick-axe, shovel and spade, the ground was levelled and rugged transitions smoothed, as well as the armouring irons placed.



 

 

From far away the necessary water was wheeled in by donkey cart.  



At 42 meters we reached the ground level and finally the cool water filled the well slowly and …
 

people’s faces beamed with happiness about their successful completion of such a difficult task!
 


The sustainability of this project is secured by having involved the local Tuaregs in the building and maintenance of this well.
 

The costs for this new well construction has amounted to a total of CHF 15’835.-.