Boro residents finally had a sigh of relief recently following the drilling and donation of two boreholes by two non-governmental organisations, ending the community’s clean water supply challenges.
Elephant Protection Society in collaboration with the Daunara Foundation recently drilled the two boreholes to help the Boro community that has been in a dire water shortage situation.
The lack of water situation has for the longest time been a major problem in Boro negatively affecting sanitation and general hygiene. Further, it has caused a great concern as the river was previously dry and the community could consequently not do their fishing and tswii harvesting activities.
In an interview, founder of the Elephant Protection Society, Oaitse Nawa said they had initially drilled four boreholes but only two were successful, producing clean and water that is not salty. The other two he said contained very salty water which could not be consumed.
Nawa said that the two successful boreholes are located in the center and southern side of Boro, further highlighting that the beneficiaries, being the residents of Boro are now content with the water situation as they no longer have to travel long distances in search of clean drinking water.
The residents are now working together to gather funds that will help pay identified employees who will be guarding the boreholes especially at night. They have also decided to make a community vegetable garden which will be irrigated with water from the boreholes.
In a previous interview, Botho Corps Trust co-founder, Dr Didimalang Biorn lamented that Boro 1 residents have been using a single public tap as their source of water which is supplied from the upstream Boro channel.
Biorn added that channel was however reported to have since been blocked by vegetation which then caused very low pressure to no water at all for days on end. “This tap as the settlement’s main source is currently producing very little to no water at all,” she said.
Biorn who had previously pleaded for potential sponsors to drill at least 2 boreholes for the Boro community lamented that water is essential for human life, therefore its lack results in poor sanitation that leads to diseases and unsafe living conditions in the area.
With the two boreholes, one would be a water source for various household activities while the other one would be used for the community garden which will be initiated immediately after the boreholes have been officially commissioned.
