Graqdam’s rural town deep well water scheme has been inaugurated.

ORDA Ethiopia’s Johne’s Rig Wash Project has been carrying out water facility construction and sanitation and hygiene activities in 5 woredas of East Gojam Zone (Gozamen, Machakel, Debre-Elias, Aneded and Sinan woredas). It has been working to benefit 143,951 people from 20016 to 2023 with a budget of 8.8 million Euros obtained from the Welthungerhilfe, with the cooperation of the Ethiopian government and the community

Graqdam’s rural town deep well clean drinking water facility, which was built with the cooperation of ORDA Ethiopia, the government and the community (in labor) at a cost of 22 million Birr, is located in Machakel woreda, East Gojam Zone. The water facility was completed and inaugurated on May 1, 2023.

The solar powered water facility will benefit over 10,000 people in the Graqdam’s rural town and the local community. The water well is a deep well dug 85 meters down, 7 water stations (each with 4 water collection faucets) and 2 water stations (for government institutions) in total 9 water disributions, 12 water stations previously built by the government, water distribution constructions have been done in a total of 21 places. Currently, 120 residents of Graqdam’s rural town have installed water pipe lines from house to house and have benefited.

ORDA Ethiopia’s WaSH & Irrigation Development Program Director, Derje Tesfahun (Ph.D.), said at the graduation ceremony that the residents of Graqdam rural town had problems with drinking water in the past, and the construction of the water facility will ease the drinking water problems of the residents. To use the water facility's service be sustainable, environmental protection work that creates water potential should be done.

The Deputy Administrator of East Gojam Zone, Ato Menburu Zewde, said that the project was completed in a short period of four months and is ready for public service, which is a role model for other projects.

The Machakel woreda Chief Administrator Ato Tamru Zewde, said that the construction and completion of the water scheme was the result of the strong coordination of the donor organization, ORDA Ethiopia, the government and the community. He added that, if we work together, more projects can be achieved.

A resident of the Graqdam’s rural town, Mr. Endalfer Mengiste said that we used to travel long distances with women to the spring to get drinking water. But now we are grateful to donors’ organizations, ORDA Ethiopia and the government for solving all the problems with the construction of the water scheme.

When the inauguration ceremony of the water facility was held, the concerned officials and experts of ORDA Ethiopia, the concerned officials and experts of East Gojam Zone and Machakel woreda and the local community were participated.

ORDA Ethiopia’s John’s Rig Wash Project built 130 water schemes (7 deep wells, 99 hand dug wells construction and maintenance, 13 shallow wells, 11 large and small springs developments) in 5 woredas of East Gojjam Zone from 2016 to March 2023. It solved the problem of clean water for the residents. To keep the hygiene and sanitation of beneficiaries, it built 32 blocks of modern pit latrines for 16 schools which benefits 16,070 students. It has also constructed 56 model ventilated pit latrines for Kebele centers.