Provision of safe potable water is probably the most critical issue in Southern Sudan. IAS has been on the forefront in assessing new potential areas to extend its activities and increase accessibility to water sources. Our organisation has worked in the sector for the past 12 years with a team of experienced Sudanese drillers and a hydrologist who has previously been working in the government and private sectors of the ‘old’ Sudan. During these years IAS has focused on Southern Sudan, with major works being done in Western and Eastern Equatoria region. In 2002 with the Nuba cease fire agreement, IAS water sector opened its doors to Nuba Mountains in the Southern Kordofan region. It has concentrated its activities in Western Jebels, which was most stricken during the war. In the consortium of a UN-led Nuba Mountains Program for Advanced Conflict Transformation (NMPACT), IAS has been able to work in cross-line operations in the SPLA/M liberated areas as well as in the government controlled regions.

Number of beneficiares in 2003

- 60,000 beneficiares in the Nuba Mountains region.
- 30,000 beneficiares in the Bahr el Ghazal region.
- 40,000 beneficiares in the Equatoria region.

1) Mobile department

- Drilling of new boreholes.
- Installation of hand pumps on newly drilled boreholes.
- Flushing and rehabilitation of old boreholes.
- Construction and rehabilitation of platforms.

2) County department

- Operation and maintenance.
- Spring protection and rehabilitation.
- Construction and rehabilitation of hand dug wells.
- Hygiene and sanitation education.
- Construction of sanitary facilities and structures.
- Mobilisation and sensitisation meetings and workshops.
- Formation of water point committees.
- Training of Community Based Pump Mechanics (CBPM).

1) Drilling of boreholes

This is the biggest department in the water sector with current records of 6 drilling units and over 50 drilling staff in the Sudan. Last year IAS drilled 123 boreholes and 100 of the boreholes where successful.

2) Rehabilitation of boreholes

Most of the boreholes in Sudan have been damaged due to over use and negligence. Some of them have not been functioning for more than a decade. One example is from the Nuba Mountain region, where boreholes that were damaged over 25 years ago, have not been repaired. IAS has noted these needs and has been one of the leading agency’s in Operation Lifeline Sudan’s (OLS) water operation and maintenance.

3) Spring protection

Water springs have been available in most areas in Western Equatoria region. IAS has been working hand in hand with the local community leaders to see that these natural reservoirs are protected and used in an appropriate way to avoid waste and water borne diseases. In 2003, we have been able to assist in the protection of 15 water springs in Yei and Maridi counties.

Spring protection

4) Formation of Water Committees

One of IAS policy’s is ‘community participation and ownership’. In all drilling sites IAS has encouraged the communities to form Water Committees that will have the responsibility in monitoring and repairing the boreholes. We have encouraged the community to form local committees comprising of 3 men and 2 women that will be in charge of each borehole in the community/village. Members of the Water Committees have been trained in pump maintenance and hygiene education.

5) Pump mechanic trainings

This year IAS has trained a total of 140 women and 100 men as pump mechanics in all drilling sites. The Water Committees are responsible for the fencing and the cleaning of the borehole site. The boreholes drilled were left under the care of 2 women and 1 man. IAS has encouraged the use of the AFRIDEV pumps which are easy to use and maintain by the local community and especially by the women.

6) Sanitation and hygiene education

Most of the diseases in Sudan are hygiene related and are mostly transmitted through water. To prevent and reduce these diseases, IAS has sensitised the communities and encouraged them to use pit latrines. The target groups were community leaders, women groups, schools, water committees and communities at each borehole site. In the past year IAS has conducted 7 workshops in Equatoria region and 17 in Nuba Mountains. The team in Equatoria has encouraged the community to construct more than 1400 latrines in their home and school areas with the focus of reducing hygiene related diseases.

Application data

Minimum bore size ... 100 mm.
Internal dia. of Cylinder ... 50 mm
Stroke length ... 225±3 mm.
Average discharge per stroke ... 17 liters per minute of 40 strokes.
Operating depth (approx.) ... up to 45 meters.

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Application data

Duty ... Used in bore well with static water level ranging from 12 meters to 33 meters.
Stroke length ... 125 ± 4 mm.
Discharge ... 17 liters per minute of 40 strokes.

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Statement by Secretary General Kofi Annan
United Nations Press Release, 03/22/01