Clean Water for Falagountou: Boreholes Bring New Hope to the Sahel region in Burkina Faso
In early February 2025, the ESEPV-Sahel project, dedicated to improving the socio-economic wellbeing of vulnerable populations in the Sahel, launched drilling operations in the commune of Falagountou, Burkina Faso. These boreholes lay the groundwork for a future drinking water supply system in an area where access to clean water remains a critical challenge.
Why This Matters
In the Sahel region, water insecurity has far-reaching consequences. In Falagountou, the operating time of the AEPS system serving the commune is barely more than an hour a day. The lack of reliable water access affects nearly every aspect of daily life — from public health to school attendance and economic opportunity. Women and girls, in particular, often bear the burden of collecting water, which can take hours each day. Limited access to water and adequate toilets in public space, schools and health centers especially contribute to open defecation, poor menstrual health management and school absenteeism.
Ensuring a safe and sustainable water supply helps reduce these barriers and create the conditions for lasting development.
Community Engagement at the Core
Before the launch of drilling activities, a community information and consultation session was held in the commune. The purpose was to explain the objectives of the project’s water component (AEP), encourage local ownership, and gather input from community representatives. Their feedback is essential to ensuring that the activities respond to local needs and realities.
Progress So Far
The current borehole work builds on a geophysical survey conducted in early June 2024 across the commune’s villages. A total of 45 exploratory boreholes will be drilled to identify suitable water sources.
To date, 15 boreholes have been completed, of which 10 have flow rates ranging from the required 5 m³/hour to 45 m³/hour, allowing mini water supply networks to be set up.
The next step is to analyze water quality from the successful boreholes. Testing will assess physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters in line with World Health Organization standards to determine whether the water is safe to drink.
Local Impact
While the figures reflect a thorough scientific methodology, the human impact goes even further.
Each successful borehole represents a step closer to improved health and opportunity for communities in Falagountou. Once the water system is in place in the commune, it is expected to benefit 15 000 residents, reducing the time spent fetching water and contributing to broader development goals in the region.
Funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Cowater International, The Socio-Economic Empowerment of Vulnerable Populations in the Sahel (ESEPV-Sahel) project is a 6-year project that aims to reduce gender-based barriers to the socio-economic participation of women and marginalized groups by promoting their access to basic social services and economic opportunities, inclusive and participatory governance in the targeted communes of Dori, Falagountou and Gorom-Gorom in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso.
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