Nghe An: Severe drought, well diggers earn millions every day

Mr. Thao said: “From May to August, well diggers have to work very hard due to the high demand from the people. There are days when they have to run shows but still cannot meet the needs of customers.”

Well digging is considered a job of "eating food in the human world and working in the underworld" because it requires working underground. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Whenever a customer contacts him, he mobilizes a team of four workers with a variety of well-digging tools including: a hand-cranked winch, several iron buckets containing soil and rocks to pull up, a fan to blow air down, a crowbar, hammer, chisel and shovel.

Normally, to dig a well, the workers will dig 7-8 meters deep into the ground until they find a water vein; then assemble about 15-17 pre-cast concrete culverts and lower them to the bottom of the well. On average, each day, Mr. Thao's workers can only dig 1 complete well with water. For each such well, including the culvert and labor, he earns 3.5-4 million VND, each worker earns 1 million VND/day.

It is a hard job, requiring well diggers to have good health. Photo: Thanh Phuc

“Although digging wells is a seasonal job that brings in a good income, this job is very hard and dangerous. In mountainous areas, we have to dig deep, so every time we go to the bottom of the well, it is a high risk. Only when we get to the surface can we be sure that we will survive,” said Mr. Thao.

Well digging and well culvert casting profession in Quynh Dien communedecades ago. At that time, the whole commune had about 50 households engaged in the well digging profession. However, in recent years, due to the arduous and dangerous work, there are now only about 7-8 households doing the job, including about 14-15 skilled well diggers and 30-40 workers involved in the well casting profession.

Although it brings in high income, the number of people working as well diggers in Quynh Dien (Quynh Luu) has decreased sharply due to the hard work. Photo: Thanh Phuc

During the dry season, in addition to digging wells, well drillers are also in high demand. With the advantages of not taking up space, easy to drill, easy to find water sources and low cost, wells are chosen by many people. Most construction projects and irrigated areas have to hire well drillers.

Mr. Le Duy Hung, a long-time well driller in My Ha hamlet (Hung Loc commune, Vinh city) said: "During the dry season, the demand for water for irrigation of trees and crops increases; besides, it is also the peak season for building houses and civil works, so the demand for well drilling increases dramatically. The team of workers works hard from morning to late at night but still cannot meet all the needs of customers. From the beginning of summer until now, we have only received orderswell drillingin Vinh city, serving construction projects. Customers in Nam Dan, Hung Nguyen, Nghi Loc called to drill wells for the colored areas but did not dare to accept because they did not have enough strength to do it," Mr. Hung added.

Mr. Le Duy Hung's well drilling team started working from 4am to 10pm but still could not meet the needs of customers. Photo: Thanh Phuc

On average, a team of 2-3 workers can drill 5-7 wells per day, with wages for each well ranging from 550,000 VND to 800,000 VND depending on the depth and the ease or difficulty of drilling in the soil. Each day, well drillers earn nearly 1,000,000 VND.

This is a hard, arduous job that requires facing danger and affecting life, so even though the income is high, earning millions every day, few people follow this profession. Also because of the scarcity of workers, the "demand" is always greater than the "supply", during peak season, well diggers and drillers work hard but still cannot keep up.