Simbi Dispensary and Community Well - Kenya
Project Snapshot
Country: Kenya
GPS Coordinates:
Latitude -0.358333
Longitude 34.734967
Impact:
Total Served: 0
Status: Completed (?)
Completion Date (or estimate): 03/08/2010
Latest Update: 04/14/2010
Here is what our partner in the field reported on April 14th, 2010.
"Simbi Dispensary has a functioning well, and the cement work is of a
very high standard. The issue with this scheme is that the water
quality is very poor. The water is of a brown colour and
saline. They are using the water for cleaning, feeding cattle and body
washing, but cannot use it for drinking or cooking. This is a great shame, and the chance
of this was not indicated on the geo survey. We have handed the project
over, but of course there was little cause for a celebration.
The good people there have though expressed their gratitude at our
efforts, and appreciate that the quality of the water sourced is beyond our control. I am going
to try and help them explore treatment processes, and they have agreed
to take a sample to the government laboratory for testing as a
next step."
While this is obviously not the outcome we had hoped for, we're hopeful the water it does provide will help with food security and for some convenience. Water filtration and treatment may be possible and we are exploring that with our partner.While the expense of digging this well cannot be re-captured, we will consider using funds set aside for well repair and maintenance to potentially re-drill in a different area and then transfer the pump.
Donors to this project should continue to monitor this page for updates.
If this project cannot be fixed, we will assign donors to a new project.Thanks for your support and patience. We're disappointed but hopeful. If this work were easy...it'd be done.
Project Photos
Sponsors
34 individual donors
Basin Youth Bells
Clover Creek Elementary School
SAS Peacemakers
Granby Memorial High School
Saint Martins Church
Country Details
Kenya
- Population: 39.8 Million
- Lacking clean water: 43%
- Below poverty line: 50%
- Climate: Varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
- Languages: English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
- Ethnic Groups:Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%
- Life Expectancy: 57 years
- Infant Mortality Rate: 55 deaths per 1000 live births
Partner Profile
Bridge Water Project
BWP staff and crew were originally trained by David Hansen, a retired water engineer from California. David visited Kenya, saw a need, and then recruited and organized this team. He got them equipment and trained them how to use it. He also trained them how to manage their new business.
Today they are drilling at least one well per week. They work in communities they know and help mobilize them. They are able to return and fix broken parts. They are committed to seeing their own people changed when clean water comes.