How Much Does It Cost to Build a Well in Africa?

The cost to build a well in Africa is not as much as you might think, there are surprisingly reasonable costs in this increasingly vital work. Most people living in developed countries have access to cold, clean water on demand any time we turn on the faucet. We don’t have to worry about having enough water to drink, cook food, wash dishes and clothes, bathe ourselves or wash our hands after using the bathroom because we have a seemingly unlimited supply from the sink. That is not the case for 319 million people in sub-Saharan Africa. In this area, water sources are an average of 3.7 miles away from homes, so walking to fetch water takes up much of the day for women and children.[1] Spending so much time getting water prevents them from living up to their potential. This daily task keeps them stuck in the cycle of poverty.[2]