Replacing Diesel With the Sun: Drawing Drinking Water Using Solar Power

In a district in Ethiopia’s hot and arid north, this project is improving the access of people and livestock to safe water. This is to be achieved by retrofitting two diesel-powered well pumps to run on solar power. Diesel systems are fragile and they require a constant supply of fuel, which needs to be brought in from the outside. By contrast, solar-powered pumps are more efficient, easier to maintain, and more eco-friendly. The water supply improvements are complemented by the provision of hygiene training and education about water-borne diseases.