Clean Water
People living in drought-prone regions of China are challenged daily with how to access water to meet their daily needs. Many sources of water are highly polluted. Other water sources require villagers to spend laborious hours each day traveling by foot to fetch water. Since 2000, Operation Blessing China has built cisterns which catch and retain rain water for the local villagers in Gansu, Ningxia and Qinghai provinces.
Cisterns release villagers from the task of fetching water hence enabling children to return to school or giving adults more time to work in the fields.
- 7,094 cisterns and wells have been constructed by Operation Blessing China since 2000
- In 2009, 6,83 cisterns were built in Gansu Province
- As a result of 2009 efforts, 12 villages were transformed impacting 683 families; 3,115 individuals benefited from the availability of cleaner water
Cisterns & Water Wells
Water is essential for survival. Over 20% of humanity is subjected daily to drinking polluted or unsanitary water. Access to water remains one of the most pressing issues for the 10 million people living in drought-prone northwestern China as well. What few sources of water that are available are dirty and highly polluted causing many various health problems. Other water sources require laborious hours each day to travel by foot or donkey to retrieve water from distant water sources. Hours spent drawing water could be better spent attending school, or working in the fields to improve one’s economic situation.
Aware of the close connection between water and socio-economic conditions, Operation Blessing China has been building cisterns in China’s northwestern driest regions since 2000. A concrete cistern in one’s own small courtyard or near their home provides a relatively clean and practical way to gather water during rainfalls. A hand pump is installed to easily and efficiently access stored water – much like a well would function. This stored water then can be boiled for use in cooking or drinking. It can also used for watering crops or provide drinking water for farm animals.
In 2007, Operation Blessing China will continue to provide cisterns in Gansu Province as well as new operations are underway to build clean water wells for drought-impacted and needy areas of Sichuan province.
Links & Other Features
Share a Well
Cisterns 2,000 RMB (310 USD) Build a high-quality cistern in Gansu and provide a family of with access to clean water year-round.
Cisterns 4,000 RMB (615 USD) Build a high-quality cistern in Guizhou and provide a family of with access to clean water year-round.
Wells 3,500 RMB (540 USD) Build a high-quality well in Sichuan and provide a family of with access to clean water year-round.
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