Living Water

Where are your operations located?

We currently operate in 25 countries around the world, and our home offices are in Stafford, Texas. For more about the countries where we operate, click here.

What is the cost of drilling a well?

Actual costs vary based on things like the country, the region, the ground conditions, and aquifer depth, but the average cost to repair or rehabilitate a well is around $3,000. To drill a well in Central America or India costs approximately $5,000, while the average cost of a well drilled by an LWI team in Africa is around $12,000.

How long does it take to complete a project?

Typically, wells are completed within a year of receiving funding, but sometimes the projects are completed over shorter or longer periods of time. Some of the things that factor into the timeline are ground conditions, well capacity, in-country operations, and donations. Once a project is completed, however, LWI reports the status of each well to donors through unique well reports as well as GPS coordinates for the place where the well was drilled.

Does LWI focus on community development or on evangelism?

For us, this isn’t an either/or issue. Clean water is not “Step One” in a two-part strategy to reach people physically and then spiritually. It is simply part of loving people the way Jesus told us to. We cannot love thirsty people without giving them water, and as we talk to people we love, we’re compelled to tell them the best news we know—that Jesus has come, the Kingdom is here, and he offers us new life. It’s hard to separate the two. You can read some awesome stories about how Christ has reached into communities through a cup of clean water here, here, and here.

What technology do you use to bring clean water to communities?

In most situations, we find that drilled wells with hand pumps are the best solution. The pumps we use are simple to repair and replacement parts can be easily found in most areas. This is one of the keys to sustainability for the community. While the vast majority of our water projects are water wells, we also implement other water solutions like rainwater catchments, bio-sand filters, and spring boxes when drilling a well isn’t the best course of action. Want to know more about wells and how they work? Click here.

Do the teams always find water?

Not always. Sometimes teams have to make several attempts before they find the aquifer, and sometimes they get held up because they need different equipment to drill in a particular area. It is heartbreaking to go into a community and not be able to bring them the water they need. However, we don’t give up just because we run into a snag on the first few attempts! We will do whatever we can to make sure we give the community a sustainable solution to their water crisis. Sometimes, it just takes a few tries! Click here to read about how this persistence paid off in one Guatemalan town.

How many people does a well serve?

It depends. Wells in urban and peri-urban areas with big populations serve larger numbers of people than wells in outlying rural communities with smaller populations. Deep wells produce more water than shallow wells. And even though we could tell you (more or less) how many people a well serves, the numbers themselves don’t really tell the whole story. One well may serve 2,000 people who previously had access to clean water but had to walk seven kilometers to fetch it. Another well may serve a community of 200 whose only source of water was a swamp. Either way, the well has a tremendous impact on the community, regardless of how many people live there. Check out this illustration to see how clean water can affect a community.

Do you just drill the well and then leave? What if the well breaks?

This issue is one of the reasons it is so important to have community involvement in the water project. Our teams on the ground are prepared to train community members in the operation and maintenance of the new water system once it’s installed. Because our pumps are simple to repair with replacement parts that are easily found in most areas, communities are usually able to care for and maintain their own wells and pumps. If a problem comes up that the community is unable to solve, our in-country teams are able to come and help out. You can read a story about a well that broke down and how the problem was solved here.

How do you involve the community?

We believe that community involvement is one of the most important aspects of sustainable water solutions. Lasting change doesn’t happen unless the community takes the lead. When appropriate, we encourage communities to form water committees. We learn from members of the community what water solution will be the most appropriate, practical, and functional—then we train them in the operation and maintenance of the new water system after it’s installed. You can read one account of how a community in Haiti helped devise and implement its own water solution here.

How can I help?

There are a lot of ways to join LWI in its mission to provide communities around the world with safe, clean water. You can donate your time through volunteering with us, go on a mission trip, host an advocacy event, raise awareness, or even attend an LWI-sponsored gathering near you. Explore the "Take Action" section of our website to find ways you can get involved.

Can I get someone from LWI to speak to my school/church/group?

Tell us about your fundraiser or advocacy event, and we’ll try to send a speaker your way. Click here to request an LWI speaker for your event.

Can I volunteer with LWI?

Absolutely! Whether you simply have some free hours in your schedule, or a special talent or ability, or some time to help out with special events, we can always use an extra set of hands. Click here to fill out an application to become an LWI Volunteer.

Do you have any photos, flyers, posters, etc. that I can use?

Check out our resources page. You'll find fact sheets, press kits, videos, photos, and more, all available to use and distribute.