Humanitarians are celebrating the release of the Village Drill Hybrid — a new, electric version of the machine that’s drilled more than 14,000 wells in 40 countries, helping millions of people get access to clean water for the first time in their lives.
“This is the biggest innovation in solving the world’s water crisis in decades,” said John Renouard, the drill’s inventor and the executive director of the nonprofit WHOlives. “We have the solution for getting clean water to rural communities. Now faster and more powerful, our proven technology is absolutely the best option for drilling low-cost boreholes.”
With its industry-leading diamond drill bit and the ability to use either human or electric power, the Village Drill Hybrid can easily fit in the back of a pickup truck (or even a canoe!), reaching 75% more people for just 25% of the cost, compared to traditional big rig drilling trucks.
“For $750,000, an organization could buy one of those drill rigs that completes six wells a month, or for the same investment, buy 20 Village Drill Hybrids that finish 20 times as many wells, drilling them at a fraction of the cost,” Renouard said. “Those big rigs can’t even reach many of the areas where we’re drilling. They easily get stuck on dirt roads. We engineered the Village Drill Hybrid to be portable and affordable so that we can get clean water to more people as quickly as possible.”
The Village Drill Hybrid builds on the success of its predecessor, the human-powered version that was developed in 2011. Many well-known charitable organizations such as World Vision, the Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse, and Rotary International are expanding their impact with Village Drills currently operating around the globe, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa but also in North and South America as well as island nations, including five in Asia.
“We’ve never had a large NGO buy just one of our drills,” said Mike Anderson, operations director for the Village Drill. “They may initially order one, but they always come back for at least one more. That’s because there’s nothing like the Village Drill out there. The effectiveness and price tag are transformative.”
International organizations have recognized the groundbreaking ingenuity by awarding the Village Drill the grand prize at the 2023 World Water Challenge and distinguishing it as one of the Top 30 Water Innovators in the World at the Paris Tech Convention. Renouard was also personally honored as an International Hero by the Red Cross.
“No one can touch us on versatility or performance,” Renouard said. “You can drill a 80-meter (260-foot) well with our invention using human power. That’s how we did our first 14,000 wells. Now, with the electric motor, you can drill even deeper – through much harder substrates – and finish even more successful wells than before.”
Initial interest in the Village Drill Hybrid is already outpacing production capabilities, with a waitlist beginning to form and reservations highly encouraged. Some governments and other groups are inquiring about ordering dozens this year.
Their commitment will help prevent waterborne disease, untimely death, and the sexual violence that often come with the walk to water. Because so many people in African villages spend hours each day fetching disgusting water, it’s easy to see how this solution is combating systemic poverty.
“I’m most excited that WHOlives can now help so many more people,” said Nicci Renouard, public relations director for WHOlives. “That’s our driving force. It’s tough work, but it’s all worth it to break the chains of water slavery for women and girls. Water changes everything, from boosting health to fueling small farms and businesses. This is how we truly uplift people.”
The new hybrid model was first introduced at the Water and Sanitation Investors Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, in March 2024. The motorized drills are expected to start shipping in summer 2024, with larger-scale production coming online later this year.
The Village Drill Hybrid and everything needed to start a viable drilling business costs $34,900, plus shipping. The price includes the patented drill frame made of U.S. steel and all the components for both manual and electric operation, such as an 8-ton ram for exceptional downward force, a generator, and a motor that creates over 1000 ft. lbs. of rotational torque.
WHOlives offers an intensive, in-country training program to quickly establish new drill teams. Following classroom instruction, the emphasis shifts to hands-on, in-field experience, with most teams fully completing their first well or two during that personalized training time.
In addition to humanitarian organizations, the Village Drill Hybrid is an ideal tool for entrepreneurs, farmers, ranchers, survivalists, homesteaders, government agencies, and others interested in emergency preparedness.
WHOlives is also outfitting existing drill teams with this new technology. Through the nonprofit’s Community-Funded Loan Program, water wells are made possible through microloans. To foster self-reliance, wells are subsidized but never donated.
Donors are making a real difference, since $30 is enough to empower one family with clean water for life. A monthly donation of just $30 unlocks opportunity for 12 families, or about 72 people, each year. Supporters can become monthly donors at WHOlives.org.
Learn more about the Village Drill Hybrid at VillageDrill.com.
Read the remarkable story behind the original Village Drill. John Renouard’s journey shows how shock, tenacity, and innovation have elevated millions of people with clean water, health, and opportunity.
ABOUT WHOLIVES
WHOlives is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on empowering people with clean water in the developing world and advocating for girls by ending female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriages. The organization’s goal is in the acronym WHO – providing clean Water, better Health and economic Opportunities to all people – while prioritizing sustainability and self-reliance. The key to solving the world’s water crisis is founder John Renouard’s invention, the revolutionary Village Drill, which has drilled more than 14,000 wells in 40 countries, helping millions of people get access to clean water for the first time in their lives. In the effort to end FGM, common-sense solutions and leadership have already resulted in a wave of arrests and convictions. Connect with WHOlives.org on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
ABOUT JOHN RENOUARD
John Renouard, founder and executive director of the nonprofit WHOlives, is known affectionately in Africa as “Bwana Maji,” or Mr. Water. After visiting in 2010, he knew he had to do something about the lack of clean water in many African villages. John worked with engineering students to bring to life his dream of a drill that could access clean water hundreds of feet deep. The Village Drill has since completed more than 14,000 wells in 40 countries, empowering millions of people with clean water, health, and opportunity. John is also making major progress in the fight against child marriages and female genital mutilation (FGM) in Kenya. The American Red Cross presented him an International Hero Award in 2015. Connect with John at WHOlives.org or on LinkedIn.