When drought struck Ethiopia in 2016, communities were left malnourished and vulnerable. Hundreds of thousands of livestock died as water systems failed and rivers dried up. Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA) responded by providing the expertise and technical support needed to get water flowing in some of Ethiopia’s most affected regions.

Providing Quick Repairs and Long-Term Solutions

EWB-USA’s Engineering Service Corps partnered with Project Concern International (PCI) to assess and repair water pumps in Afar and Bale, Ethiopia.

Mike Paddock, Engineering Service Corps Deputy Director, and Larry Bently, EWB-USA volunteer, traveled to Ethiopia to assess hand pumps and diesel-electric powered pumps at 40 different locations across the two regions. Rural communities without electricity still use hand pumps to provide water that’s cleaner than what’s available in rivers and springs. The diesel electric pumps serve larger communities.

There are many challenges for the Ethiopian government to keep these water points operational. The water points are scattered widely in rural areas, accessible only by four-wheel drive. Inconsistent electricity and unreliable internet break down communication.

As the draught intensified the need for water, Mike and Larry had to act fast to restore the pumps in these remote communities.

Over a four-week period, the team did assessments on 48 water points and made temporary repairs on 16 pumps to get them working again. They also tested water quality on the repaired pumps. 

A Unique Expertise

“I’ll never forget the exact moment when water started flowing through the pump and the Hale-Ale community members and their livestock started running toward the new water source,” Larry said. “The look on their faces said it all – such gratitude, excitement and hope in their eyes.”

Unfortunately Mike and Larry weren’t able to fix all the broken pumps during their first assessment trip. A second EWB-USA team completed the project later that year.

The experience that Mike, Larry and other EWB-USA volunteers have in underserved communities enabled them to provide quick and sustainable help for Ethiopia. Hand pump repair is considered a lost art in the United States.  These systems supplied water to the settlers in the Great Plains, but now they’re gone due to modernization. However, communities around the world still rely on these systems, and skilled hand pump operators are needed daily.

“With a fixed water pump, the families in rural Hale-Ale got their lives back that day,” Larry said. “We’re just thankful we had the opportunity to be part of it.”