Underground cisterns can provide a good source of clean and safe drinking water. Rain water can be collected in the cisterns. Also, a water from a well can be stored in a cistern during low useless period. Then the stored water could be used to meet high demand periods.
A underground cistern working in combination with a deep water well and solar pump would provide a near endless supply of water at a low operation cost. In Congo, about 12 hours of daylight is available 365 days a year.
The underground cisterns need to be protected from contamination.
If the cistern is located in the village center or near a school, Congolese girls would save hours a day. Those saved hours could be used more productive for school or for food production.
