Water & Sanitation
At MGR, Water & Sanitation projects come first on our list of ways develop villages. Giving people a safe water source and sanitation facilities eradicates diseases that claim lives and cripple communities. Having access to water means people who spend hours fetching water each day, can spend that time working or in school. It means farmers can water their crops in dry season, so that harvests don’t fail.
How it Works
A single water well in Ghana or Gambia can provide safe water for up to 2,000 people, depending on the region. That’s an entire village, and often even neighbouring villages. In India and Pakistan, MGR installs hand pumps. Between 10 to 35 families can benefit from a single hand pump.
£450: In Pakistan, installing a hand pump can cost between £450 in the Sindh Province to £900 in Nowshera.
£1,500: The cost of a water well starts at £1,500 and varies depending on the region and accessibility of ground water. In Ghana, it costs £5,000 to build a water well, while in Gaza it costs £8,500.
What We Do
MGR runs Water and Sanitation projects in six countries across two continents. Once we complete a project, we run awareness raising sessions with villagers about hygiene and sanitation. Over the past three years, we’ve installed in excess of 700 hand pumps and over 40 water wells in remote villages.
We build latrines and showers
MGR installs covered sewage and waste management systems in underdeveloped villages where a dearth of pit latrines means locals often resort to open defecation. We then build public sanitation facilities with latrines, showers and ablution taps. Find Out More
£3,000: In areas where a safe, underground water source is not accessible, we cannot install wells and pumps. Distributing water by tanker trucks is the only solution. The yearly cost of distributing clean drinking water to 10 families in Gaza, costs £3,000.
£16,500: In areas where there is an abundance of water, but it isn’t clean or safe to drink, MGR builds distillation plants. The cost of building a small distillation plant in Gaza is £17,000. In the Philippines it’s £16,500. A large distillation plant costs between £33,000 – £35,000.
The Water Crisis
Every minute, a child dies from diseases caused by contaminated drinking water. But the water crisis doesn’t just claim lives. It also causes poor health and perpetuates poverty.
Poor health means people of limited means are forced to spend money they haven’t enough of, on treatment and medicine. This is money that could otherwise be spent on food; school books; tools and materials that can generate income. Poor health also affects productivity, so that people who could be working to earn a living, are unable.
In Africa alone, over 332 million people have no safe water. To acquire it, they spend hours every day walking long distances. The time they spend searching for water is time that could be spent at school; at work or at home, caring for children.
We install hand pumps
MGR installs hand pumps in communities throughout Asia and Sub-Saharan African. They are efficient, effective and long lasting. One hand pump can provide safe water for up to 35 families, depending on the region. Find Out More
We build wells
Wells sometimes cost more but their impact is greater. They can provide water for whole villages, and even neighbouring villages, depending on the region. A well in India, for example, can provide safe water for up to 60 families. In Gambia, 2,000 people benefit from a single well we built in Mariama Kunda Village, Kombo North. Whereas in Ghana, 20,000 people continue to benefit from an MGR water well in Zog Villa, Bawku.
We operate water tankers
In remote areas of Gaza, MGR works with local partners to supply families with safe water via tanker trucks. We do this monthly, weekly or daily, replenishing household water tanks and even providing for local schools, hospitals and mosques.
We build water desalination plants
In sea-side areas where there is an abundance of water, but it isn’t clean or safe to drink, MGR builds desalination plants. This can be costly, but more efficient in the long run, particularly if those communities currently rely on water distribution.