Village well

A village well is a shallow masonry well (10-40 m) dug at the heart of a village, providing drinking water for approximately 500 people with a lifespan of ~30 years. It is managed by a local committee (COGES) trained to ensure maintenance.

Details

• Average cost in Niger: €25,000
• Construction time: 4 to 6 months
• Covers drinking water, hygiene and cooking needs
• Equipped with a concrete coping, anti-mud slab, and closure

Related terms

• Pastoral well — A pastoral well is a deep cement well (40-80 m), exclusively for watering nomadic livestock (camels, goats, donkeys).
• Vegetable garden well — A vegetable garden well is dedicated to irrigating an oasis garden, typically managed by a women's cooperative.
• Solar borehole — A solar borehole is a deep borehole (typically > 80 m) equipped with a submerged pump powered by photovoltaic panels.
• COGES — The COGES (Water Management Committee) is a community village structure that manages and maintains a water point (village well) after its construction.