Giving Update: Emwanya Community, Josam Kutsuru Spring

Protecting Josam Kutsuru Spring in Emwanya Community last year has brought about many changes in the community. Fetching water from this protected spring has helped to reduce incidences of waterborne diseases that were once so rampant here.

Children have been enabled to go to school without fear of contracting diseases from their water source at home. They carry the spring water to drink while at school and get the same clean water for use at home (though we are also looking into providing a water source on-site at the school so that the pupils do not have to carry it from home at all). The economic burden of treating diseases related to water and sanitation has also gone down.

This has definitely made their lives better, community members say.

The community was very quick to notice the stroke of good fortune brought by protecting Josam Kutsuru Spring. Most water vendors at nearby Ebuyalu market center come to fetch water from this protected spring since its water does not cause any diseases. It is a point of pride for Emwanya community members to know their water is of such a quality that the water vendors seek it out.

"Because of the available clean water and information on proper hygiene and sanitation, most parents are now helping their children to practice personal hygiene and be decent in schools," said Aineas Bukachi, a member of the water committee.

Aineas Bukachi at the spring

"This has reduced the spread of diseases among learners and villagers as well. In addition to that, women no longer slide and fall when they go to fetch water since [the] very nice staircases were constructed to ease the process of getting [water] at the drawing point."

When the occasional line or influx of people arrive at the spring, Aineas recognized the benefits of the high yielding Josam Kutsuru Spring.

"To their advantage, the spring has two discharge pipes and therefore they do not waste time in long queues when there are many users who want to fetch water [at] the same time," he said.

Aineas Bukachi and Christine Musungu

15-year-old community member Christine Musungu shared how the protection of Josam Kutsuru Spring has helped improve the safety of more than just the water at the spring.

"The spring itself is so attractive, which boosts their self-esteem as a village. We no longer find snakes at the spring surrounding [it], this is because after the protection of the spring the area around was cleared of every bush and so nobody gets scared when going to get water. Before the protection, one could just get shocked to find snakes coming to the spring and it used to be so scary."

Field Officer Erick Wagaka with Aineas and Christine at the spring