Try and Try Again: Well Drilling In North Korea

The Wellspring Project, a mercy ministry headquarted in Western North Carolina, is presently engaged in supplying equipment, training, and leadership to the people of The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) with the goal of providing viable sources of clean water.  Wellspring is presently active in providing training and support with drilling activities in the Dochi Valley, a farm community located approximately 45 km south of Pyongyang. Wellspring has been in collaboration with another NGO operating in the Dochi Valley on several water projects, providing wells for water storage and distribution projects. Wellspring's domestic operations include acquiring suitable equipment that meets the conditions and needs of North Korea. Cable rigs were chosen due to their general simplicity (mechanical components vs. hydraulics) as well as their ease of operation. Additional rigs are being restored and are scheduled to be sent to North Korea as they are made ready. Working in North Korea has proved to be difficult and rewarding. Lessons have been learned and re-learned and best practices are being refined with each trip that is taken. Wellspring believes that the only way to have sustainable sources of clean water in a third world country is to foster an indigenous groundwater industry within that country. This idea is possible if the following steps are taken:(1) Suitable equipment and training must be provided (2) Good decisions must be made before a project begins concerning suitable equipment and drilling techniques  (3) Long term relationships must be made for accountability in partnerships (4) Ownership by the indigenous people must happen for a project to endure (5) NGO's and other organizations involved in third world water works need to collaborate and share information to achieve the common goal of providing clean water in the most responsible way possible.