BYU students are successful in Tanzania

PROVO, UTAH (ABC 4 News) - A hand crafted steel drilling device could be the difference between life and death for millions of people. The contraption was invented by BYU engineering students and drills water wells without big trucks, or big money. It was tested in the West Desert of Utah a few months ago, but the true test recently happened in Tanzania.


Ken Langley, the student project leader says the goal was simple, the project was not. "Our goal was to design something that can bring water to people in remote areas." That design had to be made from materials that could be found anywhere, and powered by humans, not engines.

The Brigham Young University students were sponsored by the WHOlives organization, a non-profit group working to provide clean water to third world countries. 3.5 million people die every year because of water scarcity or contamination. 

A water well is financially out of reach for most remote areas of Africa. Wells are typically drilled by rigs at a cost of as much as fifteen thousand dollars. The human powered drill created by the BYU students can put in a well for about four thousand, and fast. The typical drilling time is three days. 

Before the drilling can begin, water must be located. The WHOlives organization found a local well driller offered to help. Paul Warner from Chem Chem Drilling Company says he was astonished by what the students hoped to do, but liked what he saw. “I liked the idea that the villagers can get involved and that may not just produce water. It might take them farther than they realize.”

The villagers in Tanzania not only helped drill the well, they were also fascinated with the process. Nate Toone, a BYU engineering student says they attracted quite a crowd. "Every time we drilled we had lot of people come and watch. They would sit in the grass. It was probably funny for them to watch a group of Americans there with this big contraption." 

The six BYU students who created the well digger as their Senior Capstone Project were both relieved and happy when they reached water. Toone says it was payback for the hours of hard work that went into the project. "When we unhooked the pipe there was a small geyser and that was evidence that we were successful. It was the payoff moment to see the smiles on everyone’s faces." 

That geyser was soon fitted with a pump that will provide water to the villagers for years to come. The WHOlives organization hopes to build on the success of the Tanzania project by drilling more wells there and in other third world countries. If you would like to help them fund clean water project visit their website at www.wholives.org