Project Status



Project Type:  Protected Spring

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 700 Served

Project Phase:  Under Construction
Estimated Install Date (?):  2025

Project Features


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The primary water source for the 700 people of Khwihondwe Community is an unprotected spring in disrepair and challenging to collect water from because of its poor condition.

Field Officer Jacqueline Kangu described the unprotected spring's current condition. "The spring is broken down, [with] dirty water, especially during [the] rainy season. [The] surface runoff contaminates the water source. [There is] exposed sharp concrete and stones at the drawing point and at the stairway, which is very risky, [and there is] standing water at the drawing point."

"During [the] rainy season, I don't like drinking this water because it's usually dirty," said 8-year-old Faith A., shown below in white collecting water from the damaged spring.

The energy people use to get to the dilapidated spring and wait in long lines for their turn to collect water leaves them with little time or energy to do the other essential things in their lives, decreasing productivity and progress.

Sadly, the water people work so hard to collect is unsafe to drink, resulting in diarrhea, stomachache, and frequent cases of typhoid. Illnesses drain community members' vital resources they need daily, decreasing the possibility of improving their futures.

Consolata Ouma.

"The current infections of diseases have continued to make [me] poor since [I] spend a lot of resources on medication [for] my family. [I] am not able to make any savings," said 70-year-old farmer Consolata Ouma.

The protection of the spring will enable people like Consolata and Faith to collect sufficient clean water to meet their daily needs and regain their health and resources to improve their lives.

The Proposed Solution, Determined Together...

At The Water Project, everyone has a part in conversations and solutions. We operate in transparency, believing it benefits everyone. We expect reliability from one another as well as our water solutions. Everyone involved makes this possible through hard work and dedication.

In a joint discovery process, community members determine their most advantageous water solution alongside our technical experts. Read more specifics about this solution on the What We're Building tab of this project page. Then, community members lend their support by collecting needed construction materials (sometimes for months ahead of time!), providing labor alongside our artisans, sheltering and feeding the builders, and supplying additional resources.

Water Access for Everyone

This water project is one piece in a large puzzle. In Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, we're working toward complete coverage of reliable, maintained water sources that guarantee public access now and in the future within a 30-minute round trip for each community, household, school, and health center. One day, we hope to report that this has been achieved!

Training on Health, Hygiene & More

With the community's input, we've identified topics where training will increase positive health outcomes at personal, household, and community levels. We'll coordinate with them to find the best training date. Some examples of what we train communities on are:

  • Improved hygiene, health, and sanitation habits
  • Safe water handling, storage & treatment
  • Disease prevention and proper handwashing
  • Income-generation
  • Community leadership, governance, & election of a water committee
  • Operation and maintenance of the water point

Chlorine Dispensers

Installing chlorine dispensers is an important piece of our spring protection projects. Protecting a spring provides community members with an improved water source, but it doesn't prevent contamination once the water is collected and stored. For example, if the water is clean and the container is dirty, the water will become contaminated.

We ensure that each chlorine dispenser is filled with diluted chlorine on a consistent schedule so that people can add pre-measured drops to each container of water they collect. That way, community members can feel even more confident in the quality of their water.

Project Updates


October, 2024: Khwihondwe Community Spring Protection Underway!

The lack of adequate water in Khwihondwe 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!




Project Photos


Project Type

Springs are water sources that come from deep underground, where the water is filtered through natural layers until it is clean enough to drink. Once the water pushes through the surface of the Earth, however, outside elements like waste and runoff can contaminate the water quickly. We protect spring sources from contamination with a simple waterproof cement structure surrounding layers of clay, stone, and soil. This construction channels the spring’s water through a discharge pipe, making water collection easier, faster, and cleaner. Each spring protection also includes a chlorine dispenser at the waterpoint so community members can be assured that the water they are drinking is entirely safe. Learn more here!


Contributors

1 individual donor(s)