A 45,000 dollar project in Ethiopia benefits 4000

Fredrick Mugira 18/11/2007
A 45,000 dollar water project that uses solar to pump water from underground is currently benefiting over 4000 people in the Adaa Liben district in the Oromia region of Ethiopia.

The project is situated 60 kilometers south of Addis Ababa. It was sponsored by an organization of civil societies in Germany in collaboration with The Environment and Development Society of Ethiopia (LEM Ethiopia)

Mogues Worku, the executive director of The Environment and Development Society of Ethiopia (LEM Ethiopia) says the project has greatly helped to extend safe water to the people in the area that was originally faced with a severe shortage of water.

He says that machines powered by solar electricity are now extracting water from over 8 meters underground which is in turn distributed to the local people in the area.

Worku says that originally, they were using generators to run machines that extract water but after venturing into the use of solar energy, they have been able to do this cheaply. He reveals that they have so far managed to, "save thousands of dollars."

He also stresses that the project is currently giving employment to several people.

Mogues says that there is need to construct more of such projects to help people in dry country of Ethiopia to access safe water.

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