The water supply consists of dirty ponds which are shared with animals and full of disease.
This is why many people fall sick from malaria, typhoid, diarrhea, dysentery, and cholera.
Those collecting the dirty water are bitten by the many mosquitoes. Thousands of villagers
suffer from a lack of access to clean, safe water. Without water you can't grow food, you
can't stay healthy, you can't stay in school as most of the day is spent walking long distances
trying to access water. For school-aged children it's a burden that traps them in poverty.
Malaria can lead to yellow fever, seizures, coma, and death. In regions with high rates
of malaria, young children suffer most.
Cisterns provide a small village with clean water, which is stored in the huge tanks during the rainy season for access as needed. Cisterns do not need a power source, and are long lasting. Each cistern costs $2000 which includes installation. Drilled wells cost $14,000 and offer an unending and abundant supply of clean (certified by testing) water with no wait lines and efficient access for an entire large village.
