Project Status



Project Type:  Borehole Well and Hand Pump

Program: Wells for Schools - Kenya

Impact: 500 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Sep 2010

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 01/17/2024

Project Features


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Community Profile

St. Mary's Mumias Girls Secondary School near Kakamega, Kenya has been struggling to find a clean, safe and reliable source of water for some time.

Currently the school relies on water that is infrequently piped in (seen below).  This water is unpredictable and rarely enough to supply the 751 students and 61 staff members.  They have attempted to collect rainwater from the rooftops, but this too is unreliable and inadequate to meet their great need.  They most often resort to walking to a nearby stream to fetch water.  It is contaminated and drinking from it leads to many waterborne illnesses.

This new well will finally provide the compound with a reliable source of water and the infrastructure already in place can be fully utilized.  The flush toilets, currently unused without a source of water, will greatly improve sanitation and hygiene.

The school management committee will oversee the project.

Latest Update:
9/29/2010: Well Completed and handed over to the school

Our partner reported from the dedication ceremony (edited for clarity)...

"Today, the BWP staff in leadership of the General Manager went to hand over a well drilled in the school.

Despite the fact that the school was having a lot of activities going on, we managed to meet the students who acknowledged the efforts done by The Water Project for providing water to the school.

The girls said that since water was provided, a lot of time has been saved for them to concentrate on their class lessons and that they look forward to gain higher grades in their subjects.

They further expressed their joy when they said that they wish to do so.

Some of the workmen in the school said that a lot of money has been saved from buying water and now the money can be used to do other activities.

At the end of the handling over, they all wished a lot of blessings to The Water Project"

8/30/2010: Pump Installed - Pictures Added
7/19/2010: Drilling complete, Pump installation in process - Pictures added
7/14/2010: Added Sanitation and Hygiene Training Photos
7/12/2010: Drilling in Progress, Pictures Added

We're just getting started, check back soon!


Project Photos


Project Type

Abundant water is often right under our feet! Beneath the Earth’s surface, rivers called aquifers flow through layers of sediment and rock, providing a constant supply of safe water. For borehole wells, we drill deep into the earth, allowing us to access this water which is naturally filtered and protected from sources of contamination at the surface level. First, we decide where to drill by surveying the area and determining where aquifers are likely to sit. To reach the underground water, our drill rigs plunge through meters (sometimes even hundreds of meters!) of soil, silt, rock, and more. Once the drill finds water, we build a well platform and attach a hand pump. If all goes as planned, the community is left with a safe, closed water source providing around five gallons of water per minute! Learn more here!


Sponsors

Goshen College