FAQs
Why don’t people move closer to a source of water?
Open sources of water are rarely safe. When open to nature they can be:
They are also unreliable, drying up or running out. This means needing to find a new source, which could be many miles away. A community cannot move every time this happens.
Land ownership is also an issue for most people; poor communities lack the money to simply move to new locations, let alone find new work or land to farm.
It is therefore much better and safer to create a water facility that is local, using water that needs only minimal filtering – like groundwater or rainwater – and owned collectively by a community.
- contaminated with household and industrial waste,
- animal faeces,
- parasites,
- waterborne diseases like cholera.
They are also unreliable, drying up or running out. This means needing to find a new source, which could be many miles away. A community cannot move every time this happens.
Land ownership is also an issue for most people; poor communities lack the money to simply move to new locations, let alone find new work or land to farm.
It is therefore much better and safer to create a water facility that is local, using water that needs only minimal filtering – like groundwater or rainwater – and owned collectively by a community.
Do people boil unsafe water?
People sometimes boil dirty water to make it safer, but there are significant problems with this as a long-term solution.
Boiled water:
Nobody should be forced to live this way. As a long-term solution, it is fairer, cheaper and more sustainable in every way to create a water supply that is close by and safe at its source.
Boiled water:
- Burning a constant supply of fuel can be very difficult, expensive and bad for health and the environment.
- Does not neutralise other contaminants, like toxic metals, which poison groundwater around the world.
- And it does nothing to stop millions of women and children having to walk miles for their water every day – leaving no time for other work, education or play. Instead, water boiling adds even more time and further issues to their lives.
- Does not rid the water of the dirt,
Nobody should be forced to live this way. As a long-term solution, it is fairer, cheaper and more sustainable in every way to create a water supply that is close by and safe at its source.
Why are women and children collecting water – are men not helping?
In many of the communities we work with, families split the duties necessary to survive. Traditionally, men will earn the family’s income through agricultural or manual work; women will collect water, cook and look after children.
Providing a local source of clean water can:
We regularly train women in communities how to maintain and repair their water and toilet technologies, and how to create a management board for them. Providing women with applicable skills and responsibilities can help towards gender equality and the realisation of their rights.
Providing a local source of clean water can:
- Drastically reduce the amount of time women and children need to spend collecting water,
- Vastly improve their health and relationships between families and communities.
- It can also open up opportunities for women to earn an income themselves,
- Children can attend school.
We regularly train women in communities how to maintain and repair their water and toilet technologies, and how to create a management board for them. Providing women with applicable skills and responsibilities can help towards gender equality and the realisation of their rights.
How long will it take to build my well/pump?
Overall, a well can take up to 6-8 months, below is a brief breakdown.
A well can take up to 3-4 months to find and evaluate a suitable area, then the drilling, cementing and the fencing can take upto 2-3 months, we send the donator a report once the water well has been constructed.
A well can take up to 3-4 months to find and evaluate a suitable area, then the drilling, cementing and the fencing can take upto 2-3 months, we send the donator a report once the water well has been constructed.
How long is the life expectancy of a well/pump?
Usually, a well can last around 10 years but that is dependent on the country and the usage of the well.
Some wells last longer than their estimated life time, depending if the well is adequately maintained. However, once we are informed that a well has dried up, we will aim to implement another well nearby.
Some wells last longer than their estimated life time, depending if the well is adequately maintained. However, once we are informed that a well has dried up, we will aim to implement another well nearby.
How will I know when my well has been completed?
Due to Bismillah Aid wanting to keep their donors in constant contact with their sponsored wells/pumps, we issue progress reports; specific inquiries are welcomed. We ask that donors allow 6-8 months for completion, after which we receive a full completion report from the respective office. Our donors will receive a completion report when the well is completed.
How does Bismillah Aid select a location for the well/pump?
Bismillah Aid Pak and our local partners on ground pinpoint areas most in need of our well donations.
Some donors request specific areas and although we will try our utmost best accommodate for these preferences, the objective of this project is to prioritise those most in need.
Some donors request specific areas and although we will try our utmost best accommodate for these preferences, the objective of this project is to prioritise those most in need.
Can a well be donated as Sadaqa Jariya (ongoing charity)?
Wells benefit numerous people over a prolonged period. Donors often donate wells/pumps as Sadaqa Jariya, for themselves and on behalf of others – including deceased loved ones.
