December, 2023: Kithalani Community Sand Dam Complete!

Kithalani Community, Kenya, now has access to a new water source, thanks to your donation! We constructed a new sand dam on the riverbed, which will build up sand to raise the water table and naturally filter water over time. We also built a new hand-dug well with a hand pump adjacent to the sand dam, providing the community with a safer method to draw drinking water supplied by the dam.

"I am happy about this water point because I know it will create a favorable climate for farming in our area. I will be able to cultivate vegetables and irrigate them because this water point is close to my home; thus, I will easily fetch water. I would feel ashamed when my grandchildren developed ringworms because of poor hygiene. Now we will have enough water to conduct personal hygiene at home and get rid of hygiene-related infections," said 65-year-old Kamanzi Kilui.

Kimanzi at the sand dam.

"It was frustrating to plant trees in my farm because getting water to irrigate them was difficult due to the long distance to the water point and minimal water supply. Now, I can plant trees, such as orange, pawpaw (papaya), and mango trees, that will help feed my family and earn me an income when I sell them. The clean water will ensure we are no longer exposed to typhoid or amoeba, and with good health, I will be able to focus on my farm and improve yields," said Kimanzi.

Sand Dam Construction Process

The members of Lenza Mukuyuni Self-Help Group collected all of the local materials, like rocks and sand, required to complete the dam. The collection of raw materials takes longer than the actual construction, lasting up to four months for a large sand dam. The group also dedicated their time and energy to support our artisans with physical labor throughout the project.

692 bags of cement were needed to build this sand dam!

First, our team drew siting and technical designs and presented them to the Water Resources Management Authority. We also sent a survey to the National Environment Management Authority for approval before we began construction.

Once the plans were approved, we established firm bedrock at the base of the sand dam wall. In the absence of good bedrock, we excavate to a depth at which the ground is compact enough to stop seepage.

Next, we mixed and heaped mortar (a mixture of sand, cement, and water) into the foundation, followed by rocks once there was enough mortar. We then used barbed wire and rebar to reinforce the mixture.

Once the foundation was complete, we built a timber skeleton to hold the sludge and rocks above ground level. Once our first layer dried, we repeated the process until reaching a sufficient height, width, and length.

Timber skeleton construction.

Finally, we dismantled the vertical timber beams and left the dam to cure. This dam measures 35 meters long and 3 meters high and took 692 bags of cement to build.

Completed sand dam!

As soon as it rains, the dam will build up sand and store water. With this water, the surrounding landscape will become lush and fertile, and the well will provide drinking water to the community. It could take up to three years of rain for this sand dam to reach maximum capacity because, in this region, sometimes it only rains once a year!

New Knowledge

As we've worked with this Self-Help Group in the past, we asked them about the subjects they most needed refresher training on.

"This training is and will be of great importance to us, for it will change our lives greatly. It has reminded us of the things that we had relaxed in doing. We have new members who have learned a lot, and they have benefited as well. To begin with, when we were trained the first time like two years ago, diseases have gone down. This training has helped us in that some did not know how to construct a tippy tap, but now they know handwashing after visiting latrines is guaranteed. Constructing squat hole covers for our latrines, water treatment, maintaining good hygiene in our water sources, and digging a rubbish pit will help us prevent unwanted diseases," said farmer Mutanu Muthui, 53.

Mutanu Muthui.

"A healthy community is a wealthy one; money we use to seek treatment can be used on other useful things. The skill of soap making has helped us generate income as a group, and for the new members, they will be able to make it on their own, generate money, and meet their needs at a personal level. This training will help us change the entire community through our hygienic actions; neighbors have been and will be learning from us, and that way, we will promote good hygiene practices," Mutanu continued.

The training was held in a location convenient for all participants. Though there were fewer participants than originally planned, 16 involved community members attended.

Refresher training

We trained the group on various skills, including bookkeeping, financial management, project management, group dynamics, and governance. We also conducted hygiene and sanitation training to teach skills like soap- and detergent-making and improve behaviors such as handwashing.

We also touched on health problems in the community, good and bad hygiene behaviors, the spread and prevention of disease, and sanitation improvements. Finally, we covered natural resource management and the operation and maintenance of the sand dam.

Conclusion

This project required a substantial collaboration between our staff, our in-country teams, and the community members. When an issue arises concerning the sand dam, the group members are equipped with the necessary skills to rectify the problem and ensure it works appropriately. However, if the issue is beyond their capabilities, they can contact their local field officers to assist them.

Also, we will continue to offer them unmatchable support as a part of our monitoring and maintenance program. We walk with each community, problem-solving together when they face challenges with functionality, seasonality, or water quality. Together, all these components help us strive for enduring access to reliable, clean, and safe water for this community.

With your contribution, one more piece has been added to a large puzzle of water projects. In Kenya, Uganda, and Sierra Leone, we're working toward complete coverage. That means reliable, maintained water sources within a 30-minute round trip for each community, household, school, and health center. With this in mind, search through our upcoming projects to see which community you can help next!

Thank you for making all of this possible!

November, 2023: Kithalani Community Sand Dam Underway!

The lack of adequate water in the Kithalani Community costs people time, energy, and health every single day. Clean water scarcity contributes to community instability and diminishes individuals’ personal progress.

But thanks to your recent generosity, things will soon improve here. We are now working to install a reliable water point and improve hygiene standards. We look forward to sharing inspiring news in the near future!