The First Drop of Clean Water for Grace
When one is born in any community, life looks normal until you grow up and start looking at issues critically and objectively. For me, one of those things was the water source in my community.
As I was growing up, going to fetch water from a partially protected spring was normal for me. It was not until I became an adult and started a family that I realized consuming contaminated water is harmful to our health.
Our First Visit with Grace: Before Clean Water
To share with you how it feels to consume water from an unprotected source, we made a visit to Grace, a member of a local community in Western Kenya. We deliberately made our visit on the last day before our spring protection construction would commence.
For a long time, Grace’s community got water from a partially protected spring constructed in 2008. “Partially protected” means that a structure built around a spring does not fully isolate the water from its environment.
Whenever it rained in Grace’s community, all the surface runoff would end up in the spring, making the water coming from the discharge pipe dirty.
“Just by looking, when it rains heavy, [you can tell that] dirty water is able to infiltrate inside,” Grace said. “Whenever someone fetches water, the person will at least need to boil it or add chlorine if it is there to make it clean.”
As a mother and a community member, Grace admits to being fully aware of the risks involving the consumption of contaminated water. But since she does not have any other option, she and her family were still forced to consume it.
Grace informed us that her community has seen numerous cases of sickness and infections.
“In my family, my husband fell sick after consuming this water,” Grace explained.
“He was suffering from typhoid. I managed to take him to the hospital. I felt sad because the money I used for medication, I could have used it for other purposes: buying other things or paying school fees, rather than taking it to the hospital.”
Having lived in this community for a long time, Grace has always had to make do with unsafe water. But even accessing the water becomes a challenge when it rains.
“Whenever it rains, the path becomes so slippery and dangerous,” Grace said. “Further, there are dangerous insects and other creatures like crabs.”
After having gone through all this, Grace was still optimistic. She hoped that one day all that would come to an end. She prayed and hoped that the water she was consuming on that last day would be her last-ever drop of dirty and contaminated water.
After Clean Water: Following Up
Our artistans protected the spring in Grace’s community. Once it was completed, we decided to go back and capture the contrast — consuming clean water after having made do with unsafe water for so long.
On arrival, we were welcomed by a nice-looking spring: well-constructed, fenced, with stairs and crystal clear water.
We sought an audience with Grace to hear what she had to say.
“I am feeling so happy and full of joy,” Grace said.
“Our former spring was in a bad state. We could drink dirty water, but now, our spring is looking so good. It’s protected.
“Additionally, before, I boiled the water. I had to do that after my husband suffered from typhoid. I used to buy firewood, and it was costly.
“I feel extremely good. The water is clean and very tasty. I am so grateful. My children will access clean water and have good health. The costs of boiling water will go down because we are accessing clean water.”
According to Grace, the first drop of clean water is a symbol of good health, hope, and greater things to come.
I asked Grace if she wanted to say anything to the people who helped create this new safe water source in her community.
“I want to thank the people who sacrificed and gave their money to protect this spring,” Grace said.
“As a mother, I am now sure that my children are safe. My grandchildren and the generations to come are also safe, since this water point will serve this community for so many years to come. May God bless them abundantly.”
Conclusion
Just like darkness disappears when light shines, diseases, danger, and wasted time vanish when clean, safe water begins to flow.
For Grace, that first drop of clean water meant health for her family, safety for her children, and hope for the future.
You can bring the first drop of clean water to another mother like Grace today.
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