Rehabilitation Project
The community of Kasyalani has 1,500 residents who lack access to nearby, safe water sources. Community members can collect water from a scoop hole in a local dry river bed or a protected dug well attached to a sand dam in another community. However, both sources are too far away for people to access sufficient water to meet their daily needs quickly.
"The area’s dryness and dusty nature make it difficult to navigate, especially during drought periods. Dust can cause irritation, and the barren land offers little vegetation or shade, making long journeys to fetch water exhausting and dangerous due to heat exposure. The area is also rocky; the path to the scoop hole or the sand dam is, therefore, treacherous. Walking over uneven ground or sharp rocks increases the risk of injuries such as cuts, sprains, or falls, especially when carrying heavy water containers," shared Field Officer Alex Koech.
Community members collect water from a scoop hole.
The protected well is people's best option as the water is safe to consume, but it is overcrowded and can not provide enough water to address the acute water crisis. As people wait their turn to collect water, they lose valuable time; they often resort to scoop holes that are less crowded even though the water quality is questionable.
"Drinking from the scoop hole, which is exposed to contamination from animals and dirt, has increased the risk of diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid, and cholera. These illnesses are common because water is not properly treated or stored," Alex continued.
Beatrice with a gourd to collect and pour water into her collection jug.
13-year-old Beatrice spends an average of four hours a day collecting water for herself and her family. It is an exhausting, overwhelming responsibility.
"I feel bad that we do not have enough water from the current sources because we experience adverse drought in our area. The current water points are located very far away, about 3 kilometers (nearly 2 miles) away. Walking over the rocky and steep terrain to access water is risky and I have hurt myself several times when going to fetch water. I feel bad because I have to walk several kilometers under the burning, arid sun looking for water," said Beatrice.
Beatrice carrying water home.
Beatrice has dreams about the future but her time is so consumed with collecting water that she has little time for anything else.
"I spend most of my free time when at home fetching water rather than studying or revising what was taught in class," said Beatrice.
We asked Beatrice what she would do if she didn't have to spend so much time collecting water. She said, "I would spend my time playing or studying. I want to study hard so that I can be [a] doctor in [the] future."
Installing a well in Beatrice's community will bring water closer to her home, allowing her to collect water quickly and efficiently while still having time to do the things she mentioned. Providing her time to study will hopefully build her a brighter future.
Beatrice.
"The new waterpoint will be close to my home, and I will no longer have to walk far looking for water," concluded Beatrice.
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.
Note: Our proposed water point can only serve 300 people per day. We are working with the community to identify other water solutions that will ensure everyone has access to safe and reliable drinking water.
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 dug well and sand dam.
Dug Well Near A Sand Dam
Once a sand dam is installed and has time to mature by gathering sand and silt, groundwater increases significantly in the entire area surrounding the project. This provides a reliable source of groundwater that wasn’t possible before. As a result, wells can be constructed to take advantage of the water stored and filtered in the collected sand.
During construction, we build a platform for the well and attach a hand pump. The community gains a safe, enclosed water source capable of providing approximately five gallons of water per minute.
This dug-well will be connected to a sand dam to obtain water.
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.
