Ithambwangao Community A

Project Status

Project Type: Sand Dam

Regional Program: Southeastern Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 300 Served

Project Phase: In Service - Jan 2026

Functionality Status: Functional

Project Features

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The 500 community members of the Ithambwangao Community depend on a distant well for their daily water needs. Because the well is so far away, just getting there and back consumes people's time, leaving them little time and energy for other important things like farming, producing an income, or attending school.

This semi-arid area is vast, and the water crisis is acute because of the lack of rain. The surrounding communities have been building sand dams with attached shallow wells to address the issue, but now it is time for this community to have one of those systems so people do not have to trek so far in the hot sun every day.

Terresia on her long walk for water.

"Building more sand dams is a beacon of hope in the fight against the water crisis. More sand dams mean that more community members will be reached, and the water security scope will be enhanced. Also, it means that community members and children can have more time to work on their farms and study," shared Field Officer Jefferson Mutie.

As we all know, water is critical to survival; without it, people can not flourish.

Terresia.

Community member Terresia Nyerere, a 50-year-old farmer, shared her thoughts, "Water is life. It sustains us, nourishes our bodies, and fuels our dreams. It flows through our daily routines, from the first sip of morning coffee to the laughter shared during a family meal. Water is not just a resource; it's a vital connection to our environment and each other. It nurtures our communities, supports our health, and enables us to thrive. Without it, life as we know it would cease to exist. For me, water represents hope, resilience, and the promise of a better tomorrow."

It takes Terresia forty-five minutes one way to reach the well where she collects water for her family. Then she must wait her turn to fill her jug and start the trek home carrying her full container, which, on average, weighs forty-four pounds. For her to make one trip, collecting and carrying that relatively small amount of water back home takes her a minimum of an hour and a half. It is an exhausting task, especially when it must be repeated throughout the day to have enough water to survive.

Terresia at the faraway well.

Building a sand dam with an attached shallow well in Terresia's community will provide all of the water she needs in a day while still giving her time to do other important things to improve her daily life since she will be able to collect it quickly.

With easy water access, Terresia can fuel her dreams and build her life.

Solving the water crisis in this community will require a multifaceted system that will work together to create a sustainable water source that will serve this community for years to come.

Steps Toward a Solution

Our technical experts worked with the local community to identify the most effective solution to their water crisis. Together, they decided to construct a sand dam and dug well.

Sand Dam
Sand dams are sought-after, climate-smart, and lasting water solutions, providing hope and resilience to communities in arid Southeastern Kenya. Think of them like giant sandboxes constructed in seasonal rivers that would typically quickly dry up after the rainy season. Instead of holding water like traditional dams, they collect sand and silt.

When infrequent rains do come, these dams catch a percentage of the river's flow, letting most of the water continue downstream to other communities. But here's the magic: the sand they collect acts like a natural filter, holding onto water long after the river's gone dry. Then, wells are constructed nearby, creating a reliable water source even during the driest times.

And the benefits don't stop there! In communities impacted by climate change, sand dams replenish groundwater and prevent soil erosion. Even during severe droughts, the consistent water supply from these sand dams allows farmers to thrive, giving way for enough food not only for their families but also to sell in local markets.

The most remarkable aspect of sand dams is how they involve the local community every step of the way, giving them a sense of ownership and pride in solving their own water shortage and managing their own water resources.

This sand dam will be connected to a dug well to make the water more accessible.

Community Education & Ownership
Hygiene and sanitation training are integral to our water projects. Training is tailored to each community's specific needs and includes key topics such as proper water handling, improved hygiene practices, disease transmission prevention, and care of the new water point. Safe water and improved hygiene habits foster a healthier future for everyone in the community. Encouraged and supported by the guidance of our team, a water user committee representative of the community's diverse members assumes responsibility for maintaining the water point, often gathering fees to ensure its upkeep.

Project Updates

January, 2026: Ithambwangao Community Sand Dam Complete!

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

"We will now have enough water nearby and will no longer be walking several kilometers to draw water from distant scoop holes. There will be enough water to grow trees, nurture vegetable farms, and even for our cattle. My livestock's yield will improve because they will no longer go far to drink water. We will be drinking clean water and no longer exposed to water-related infections like typhoid, amoeba, and dysentery," said 48-year-old David Mwenda, a farmer.

David Mwenda.

"My children will no longer be spending their free time fetching water; this will enable them to interact with their peers and study, which will improve their grades. I will be able to earn from farming because I will be selling vegetables and fruits, enabling me to offset my children's school fees," David continued.

Sand Dam Construction

The members of the Kaliluni Mtunze Punda Self-Help Group collected all the local materials, such as 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 a tremendous amount of time to supporting our artisans through physical labor throughout the project.

Community members help build the sand dam.

"I am hopeful about this group because they have put great effort to ensure the project was completed. Youths in the community would come to help during construction. The members have promised to grow trees, cultivate vegetables, and make soap, that they will be selling to other community members. This project has restored hope in a better future for this community," said Field Officer Alex Koech.

First, our team developed the siting and technical designs, which were then presented to the Water Resources Management Authority. We then sent a survey to the National Environment Management Authority for approval before beginning construction.

Once the plans were approved, we established a firm base for the sand dam wall. Usually, this requires the community to dig all the way down to the bedrock beneath the river channel. In the absence of good bedrock, we excavate to a depth at which the ground is compact enough to stop seepage.

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

Once the foundation was complete, we built a timber skeleton to hold the structure above ground level. We repeated the process until reaching a sufficient height, width, and length.

Finally, we dismantled the vertical timber beams and left the dam to cure. This dam measures 40 meters long and 4 meters high and took 440 bags of cement.

When the rains come, sand and silt will be carried down the dry riverbed and build up behind the dam wall. This reservoir of sand acts as a giant natural filter, allowing rainwater to seep into the ground and raise the water table. With this water, the surrounding landscape will become lush and fertile, and the well will provide the community with drinking water. It could take up to three years of rain for this sand dam to reach its maximum capacity, because in this region, it sometimes only rains once a year!

Community Education

Our trainer collaborated with the field staff and community members to identify areas where the community could improve.

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

Participants using the newly constructed tippy tap.

We conducted a session on how to construct a tippy tap handwashing station. Trainer Veronica Matolo shared, "This activity entailed construction of a simple handwashing facility using locally available materials, and it's constructed outside a latrine to remind people that it’s important to wash their hands after visiting [the] latrine. As the activity was in progress, the homestead owner appointed one of his best friends to construct a latrine squat hole cover for him. A very interesting move since he said that by the time we left his home [he wanted] to ensure that he had all the missing sanitation infrastructures, which were the two: [a] squat hole cover and a tippy tap."

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

We covered health problems in the community, including good and bad hygiene habits, as well as the prevention of disease. Finally, we covered both natural resource management and the operation and maintenance of the sand dam.

Lucia Francis.

"The lessons taught in training will truly help in disease prevention. New members have had an opportunity to learn these practices, and [this] will also be helpful to them. Soap and latrine disinfectant making will continue to help us generate more income as a group," shared 61-year-old Lucia Francis.

Thank you for making all of this possible!

November, 2025: Exciting Progress in Ithambwangao Community!

We’re thrilled to share that, thanks to your generous support, significant change is coming for Terresia Nyerere and the entire Ithambwangao Community. Construction has begun on the sand dam project, bringing them one step closer to having clean, reliable water.

But that's not all—during construction, we’re also providing vital health training. These sessions equip the community with essential hygiene practices, ensuring that the benefits of clean water extend to lasting health improvements.

We’re so grateful for your role in making this possible. Stay tuned for more updates—soon, we’ll be celebrating the arrival of safe water in Ithambwangao Community!

Project Type

Sand dams are huge, impressive structures built into the riverbeds of seasonal rivers (rivers that disappear every year during dry seasons). Instead of holding back a reservoir of water like a traditional dam would, sand dams accumulate a reservoir of silt and sand. Once the rain comes, the sand will capture 1-3% of the river’s flow, allowing most of the water to pass over. Then, we construct shallow wells on the riverbank to provide water even when the river has dried up, thanks to new groundwater reserves. Learn more here!

Ithambwangao Community A

Project Status

Community Profile