January, 2023: Kilia Community Shallow Well Project Complete!

Kilia Community, Kenya now has a new water source thanks to your donation! We constructed a new hand-dug well adjacent to a new sand dam on the riverbed. The sand dam will build up sand to raise the water table and naturally filter water, while the well will provide a safer method of drawing drinking water for the community.

It could take up to three years of rain for this sand dam to reach maximum capacity because sometimes it only rains once a year in this region! As the sand dam matures and stores more sand, the surrounding landscape will become lush and fertile, and the well will fill with water.

Beth at the new shallow well splashing water held in place by the sand dam.

"Access to water from this point will enable me and my family to keep away from diseases," said 70-year-old Beth Mutuku. "We shall also save on time wasted going to fetch water and work on our farms to become more productive."

"I have been thinking about farming for quite [a] long [time] now," Beth continued. "I know if you think about farming, think water first. That's why I had to be part of the community implementing water projects. Now that the dam is complete, I shall grow vegetables for household uses and for sale, too. I have a target of making Ksh 20,000 every month so as to boost my income security."

"I shall use the water in various activities such as irrigation and [the] keeping of acquatic animals," said 17-year-old Faith. "I hope to become self-reliant because of access to water. I shall attain food and income security."

Faith in front of the sand dam.

"Although [our community constructed] another sand dam, our challenge was the distance to get water from it," Faith continued. "Now, life has become a bit easier, and I am hoping to be very successful in terms of farming. The road [to the other sand dam] was rocky and hilly. Here, I shall enjoy clean water near me."

Hand-Dug Well Construction Process

Construction for this well was a success!

We delivered the experts, materials, and tools, but the community helped get an extraordinary amount of work done, too. They collected local materials to supplement the project, including sand, stones, and water. When all the materials were ready, it was time to dig in!

First, we excavated a hole seven feet in diameter up to the recommended depth of 25 feet. (Most hand-dug wells do not reach that depth due to hard rocks between 10-18 feet.) As planned, the diameter shrank to 5 feet when the well lining was complete. This lining is made of brick and mortar with perforations to allow for water to seep through. When the well is finished, sand builds up around its walls, which will filter the rainwater stored behind the dam.

Once the lining reached ground level, we laid a precast concrete slab on top of the lining and joined it to the wall using mortar. The concrete dried for two weeks before installation. We fixed four bolts onto the slab during casting in preparation for the hand pump's installation.

Field officers explain the well's construction to The Water Project USA staff members Alex Taliaferro and Courtney Feild.

Next, the mechanics arrived to install the pump as community members watched, learning how to manage simple maintenance tasks for themselves. We installed the pump level with the top of the sand dam. As the dam matures, sand will build up to the top of the wall. Until then, people will use the concrete steps to get their water. After installing the pump, we gave the well another few days to let the joints dry entirely.

We worked with the Kyeni Kya Kiianzou Self-Help Group for this project. The members and their families contributed tremendous amounts of materials and physical labor.

New Knowledge

As we’ve worked with this Self-Helf Group in the past, we conferred with them about the subjects they most needed refresher training on.

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.

The most valuable topic during this training session was disease transmission, where our trainers helped community members identify households still lacking in necessary hygiene and sanitation features like latrines and dish racks to keep food and utensils off the ground.

"Under this topic, each member was required to give an input on [the] disease transmission routes discussion [as well as] when and how to implement the action plan, so no one is left behind," said trainer Christine.

People also enjoyed the refresher training on soap-making since it meant everyone could take home a bottle of soap after the training. While the soap was stirred, community members tried to recall bible verses from memory to pass the time.

Looking Ahead

The new water source will make everyday tasks so much easier. This group has already started to bring their dreams of agricultural greatness to fruition by starting a tree nursery. Once these trees mature, they can be planted. These will, in turn, encourage a healthier ecosystem with more frequent rainfall — a sign of hope and restoration for the people of Kilia.

Conclusion

This project required a substantial collaboration between our staff, our in-country teams, and the community members themselves. 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 our target areas, we’re working toward complete coverage of 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!

December, 2022: Kilia Community Hand-Dug Well Construction Underway!

Dirty water is making people in Kilia community sick. Thanks to your generosity, we’re working to install a clean water point and much more.

Get to know this community through the narrative and pictures we’ve posted, and read about this water, sanitation, and hygiene project. We look forward to reaching out with news of success!