The World Health Orgainizaton says that 80%
of illness in
third world countries
is due to
bad water...

and that
5 million
people die
each year
because of
bad water...

and that at
any given
time, 2 billion
people are sick because of
bad water.

History... In 1996 Rotarian Bob Scroggs went to Nicaragua on a church mission trip to build a medical clinic.  During the project, the absence of good clean  water became very evident. The germ of an idea was planted that did not emerge until 1999 during a chance conversation with Mickey Moore, a water well driller from Bristow, OK, (near Tulsa). 

In the conversation, Moore mentioned that he had been on a missionary trip to Uganda to drill a water well for  an orphanage.  When asked if he was willing to go to Nicaragua, he quickly agreed ---- and the project was put into motion.

In 2000 Bob's club, the RC of Tulsa, committed to the project and a drilling rig and supplies were purchased in Jan 2002, with the help of a Matching Grant from The Rotary Foundation, and shipped to Nicaragua in Dec 2002.  In Jan 2003 The two traveled to Nicaragua to drill a test well and meet with local government officials and the Masaya Rotary Club and prove the concept of the project.
In Jan 2004 the two went back to Nicaragua for six weeks and drilled a total of 10 wells to provide water to 450 dwellings and 3,300 people.

A return trip in Feb-Mar 2005 has a goal of 15 wells providing water for 2,500 people.
...What now? How can clubs and individuals join this life changing effort?

This project requires excellent relationships with the local Rotary Club in Masaya. This club is an outstanding participant in this project.

The District goal is to transfer the actual drilling and responsibility of this project to the Rotary Club of Masaya --- with technical and financial support from District 6110 and other Districts and clubs funded by our “Own a Well” program.

“Own-a-Well” Program

Each well costs $1000 to complete. We want you or your Rotary Club to “OWN” a well. By contributing $1000 for each well to be owned, you or the contributing Rotary Club will get the names and pictures of the well site and have a cast Aluminium plaque permanently placed at the well site. We are encouraging one or more wells per Rotary Club of our District.

Visit www.OwnAWell.com for info on contributions
For more info click --> EMAIL


This is a “Hands on Project”. We invite and indeed encourage members of Rotary Clubs to
come to Nicaragua during the drilling period to see the actual operation of this project.

            --- see first hand the excitement of providing water to children that need it ---