Project Status



Project Type:  Borehole Well and Hand Pump

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 250 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Mar 2023

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 08/07/2024

Project Features


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Community Profile

Even with a dug well and two rainwater tanks on the grounds of Musango Health Center, the staff still never has enough water to serve the constant flow of patients.

The dug well is shallow and doesn't have a pump. Every time a staff member opens the cover and drops the bucket into the shallow pool of water below, contaminants from the bucket enter the water supply. Also, the well runs out of water multiple times a day due to a slow water recharge rate, and dries up entirely during the drought seasons, which last more than a month each year.

The rainwater tanks only fill up during Kenya's rainy seasons, which have been sparse and undependable in recent years due to climate change. The tanks might serve the center for a few weeks after a rainstorm, but the rest of the time, they stand empty. And even when there is water, the tanks have been infested by tiny water insects that render the water unfit for much, other than mopping floors.

So the nurses and non-medical staff at the busy health center are left to wander the community, asking neighbors with dug wells for permission to collect water. But this presents its own problems, because not only is the health center left short-staffed when emergencies and births arise, but they can't be sure that the water they collect from the community is safe for patients, who may already be in a weakened state.

The Health Center provides a plethora of health services to multiple surrounding communities: inpatient, outpatient, and obstetric care. Patients need clean water for bathing and drinking. Water is also needed for sterilizing, cleaning, and handwashing. Without it, the Center is limited in the services it can provide.

"[The] lack of adequate water at the health facility affects my daily working schedules and also sometimes makes me sick," said nurse Martha (Mary) Ndauya, 51 (shown above).

This situation also impacts the staff's families, who reside on the health center grounds with them, like Denis K (shown below collecting water from one of the small rain tanks).

"When the dug well at the health facility dries up, I have to walk for a long distance in the morning to collect water before going to school," said 13-year-old Denis K. "This makes me miss most of the morning lessons, and also, when I get to school, [I] am usually very tired and [this] affects my concentration in class."

The health center needs a reliable, safe source of water to treat patients effectively and prevent them from being infected with water-related illnesses. With a borehole well right on campus, people from all the surrounding communities will benefit from a smoothly functioning treatment center.

What We Can Do:

New Well

We conducted a hydrogeological survey and the results indicated the water table here is an ideal candidate for a borehole well. Due to a borehole well's unique ability to tap into a safe, year-round water column, it will be poised to serve all of the water needs for this clinic's needs, even through the dry season.

The clinic will help collect the needed construction materials such as sand, rocks, and water for mixing cement. They will also provide housing and meals for the work team, in addition to providing local laborers. We will complement their materials by providing an expert team of artisans and drilling professionals, tools, hardware, and hand-pump. Once finished, the clinic will use water from the well and staff for drinking, handwashing, cleaning, and much more.

The clinic and we strongly believe that all of these components will work together to make the clinic easier to clean, which will aid in treatment and unlock the opportunity for patients and staff alike to live better, healthier lives.

Handwashing Stations

We will install two new handwashing stations and ensure they are kept clean and in working condition. The clinic staff will fill the handwashing stations with water daily and make sure they are always supplied with a cleaning agent such as soap or ash.

Training on Health, Hygiene, and More

We will hold a one-day intensive training session. This training will cover a wide range of topics, including disease transmission routes and prevention; personal and environmental hygiene; and the operation and maintenance of the borehole and handwashing stations. There will be a special emphasis on handwashing.

Our team of facilitators will use various methods to train, including participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation and asset-based community development. We will also lead lectures, group discussions and provide illustrative handouts to teach health topics and promote good hygiene practices, including handwashing and water treatment. We will then conduct a series of follow-up training before transitioning to our regularly scheduled support visits throughout the year.

Project Updates


March, 2023: Musango Health Center Well Complete!

We are excited to share that Musango Health Center in Kenya now has access to a new safe, clean water source thanks to the completion of their new borehole well! Staff, patients, and their families already use the well’s flowing water, providing them with a reliable water source for all their daily needs.

We also installed new handwashing stations and trained staff on improved sanitation and hygiene practices. Together, these components will unlock the opportunity for the health center and its surrounding community to live better, healthier lives.

"Access to reliable and safe water will help me get to school early in the morning and not miss the morning class because the distance I use to cover in the morning going to collect water before going to school has reduced," said 12-year-old Barack O.

"Having enough time to attend my classes fully, I'm certain that it will help me pass my exams and be a great person in [the] future."

"Being a nurse in charge of this facility, I can proudly say that you people are God sent. I must say the happiness that has engulfed me is beyond expression. I'm fully aware that the activities at the clinic will be swift hence providing effective services to our patients," said 50-year-old nurse Mary Ndauya.

Mary continued, "Personally, I can say [the] lack of sufficient water in the facility has been a great hindrance to my dreams. Now that we have enough water, I'm sure all [the] time [I] dreamt of helping humanity will come to fruition sooner rather than later. I believe this water point will not only prove to be a great platform but also the one which will bring success to this dream which most would describe as a passion that many in my field have. That is to see a healthy population."

How We Got the Water Flowing

Staff and community members all played a part in this well’s success. After determining the best site for the well through a hydrogeological survey, we obtained approval and a license from the government to begin drilling.

To prepare, everyone helped collect fine sand and water for cement-making. Our drill team and staff arrived at the center to begin work when everything was ready.

Drilling commenced with excitement in the air. The team drove down a temporary casing to keep the walls from collapsing as the rig progressed. We continued drilling to reach a final depth of 60 meters with a final static water level of 5.46 meters.

The drilling process can take up to three consecutive days due to this region’s hard bedrock, so the drill team set up a camp where they could rest and refuel. The community provided meals for the team, while the clinic provided a safe place for the artisans’ accommodations and materials.

Once we reached the required depth, the team replaced the temporary casing with a permanent version, then bailed out the dirty water at the bottom of the well. Workers installed pipes, flushed them, tested the well’s yield, and chlorinated the water.

After water treatment, we constructed a cement well pad to protect the well from any ground-level contaminants. Tiles are installed beneath the spout to protect the cement from the erosive force of the water.

We also included a short drainage channel to carry spilled water away from the pump and prevent standing water. A soak pit absorbs runoff at the end of the drainage channel, further eliminating any stagnant water.

When the well pad was dry, we installed a new stainless steel AfriDev handpump and sampled the water for a quality test. The results showed this water was safe for drinking!

The enthusiasm for this much-anticipated project was overwhelming. We officially handed over the new borehole to clinic staff and community members.

Everyone celebrated the clinic’s new water source. The celebration was an excellent chance to acknowledge the clinic staff as the primary parties entrusted with the tools we have given and remind them of our continued support as they develop. Happiness, thanksgiving, and appreciation were the order of the day, flowing in all directions.

Handwashing Stations

Two handwashing stations were set up during training and handed over to the health center. The water user committee members will teach people how to wash their hands properly, fill the stations with water, and ensure that there is always a cleaning agent available.

New Knowledge

We scheduled hygiene and sanitation training with the clinic staff, who ensured the training date would be convenient. When the training day arrived, facilitators Edmond,Joyce, and Jackline deployed to the site to lead the event. Thirty-seven community-based leaders, village health volunteers, government officials, and community members attended the training we held under a tree in the health center's compound.

Our training covered several topics, including personal hygiene, oral hygiene, the ten steps of handwashing, environmental hygiene, the operation and maintenance of the well and pump, latrines, handwashing stations, and leadership.

Community members elected their peers to lead their water user committee during the leadership session. The club will be responsible for encouraging good health and hygiene practices. By the end of the training, participants understood their role in sustaining clean water and good health within their community.

"Yes, the training was valuable to me. I can start a soap-making business using the knowledge I gained from the training. The income I get from selling soap will assist me in paying my children's school fees and my family's basic needs," David Nyongesa, a 47-year-old farmer and chairman of the water user committee, said.

Conclusion

This project required a substantial collaboration between our staff, our in-country teams, and the community members. When an issue arises concerning the well, the community members and staff are equipped with the necessary skills to rectify the problem and ensure the water point 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 facing functionality, seasonality, or water quality challenges. 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!




January, 2023: Musango Health Center New Well Underway!

A severe clean water shortage at Musango Health Center drains staff and patients' time, energy, and health. Thanks to your generosity, we’re working to install a clean water point and much more.

Get to know this health center through the introduction and pictures we’ve posted, and read about this water, sanitation, and hygiene project. We look forward to reaching out with more good news!




Project Photos


Project Type

Abundant water is often right under our feet! Beneath the Earth’s surface, rivers called aquifers flow through layers of sediment and rock, providing a constant supply of safe water. For borehole wells, we drill deep into the earth, allowing us to access this water which is naturally filtered and protected from sources of contamination at the surface level. First, we decide where to drill by surveying the area and determining where aquifers are likely to sit. To reach the underground water, our drill rigs plunge through meters (sometimes even hundreds of meters!) of soil, silt, rock, and more. Once the drill finds water, we build a well platform and attach a hand pump. If all goes as planned, the community is left with a safe, closed water source providing around five gallons of water per minute! Learn more here!


Patient Care Improves with Clean Water!

May, 2024

A year ago, your generous donation helped the Musango Health Center in Kenya access clean water – creating a life-changing moment for Martha. Thank you!

Keeping The Water Promise

There's an incredible community of monthly donors who have come alongside you in supporting clean water in Musango Health Center.

This giving community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Musango Health Center maintain access to safe, reliable water. Together, they keep The Water Promise.

We’re confident you'll love joining this world-changing group committed to sustainability!

Last year, your gift unlocked the potential for a brighter future for Martha. Since then, she and the other staff, patients, and residents living around Musango Health Center have had clean, reliable water. Your contribution has made a significant impact. Thank you for making a difference!

"What l like about fetching water here is that it is easily accessible and water is available throughout [all] the seasons. All departments have water, all through [the year] and there is no shortage of water," said 53-year-old nurse Martha Ndahuya, who we spoke to when we first visited the health center.

Before the Well's Installation

As a staff nurse, Martha was responsible for collecting water to meet both her patients and her personal daily water needs. Before last year’s water intervention, that task stole her time and negatively affected her ability to provide proper medical care to her patients.

Martha collected water from a rain tank before the well implementation.

Collecting the from the previous water sources, a contaminated dug well and a rain tank was tedious and often impossible during the dry season driving her outside of the health center grounds in search of sufficient water instead of providing timely medical care. The water she did find often caused severe consequences, leaving her and her patients suffering from waterborne diseases that created further health problems, affecting their daily lives. Collecting water sapped her physical and emotional energy.

"Previously, we used to fetch water from a dug well within the facility that was shallow. I used to drop the bucket down and as l pulled it [up], it came up contaminated with dirt that is inside the well. The shallow well, due to slow water recharge, ran out of water. During [the] dry season it dried up completely. The rainwater tanks used to serve us during [the] rainy season [but] during [the] dry season the tanks remained empty. Sometimes we would go around the community to ask for permission from those who have dug wells to fetch water so that we could use [it] in the facility," shared Martha.

"It was strenuous because the facility had only the hand-dug well and the rain tanks that served the facility in all departments; both of the water sources dried up during [the] dry season."

Since the Well's Installation

Your generous gift last year was much more than a simple donation; it was a powerful statement about your commitment to Martha and this community’s future. By supporting the water solution, you made clean water an everyday reality for her, fostering hope for a brighter future.

Martha collects water from the well.

Reliable and clean water lays the groundwork for improved health, education, and economic possibilities, allowing people like Martha to thrive. We frequently hear from those we interview that "water is life!"

"I rarely get ill. Initially, l used to fall sick because of the shallow well that was contaminated and the rainwater tanks that had insects in [them]. l would drink the water and get ill and that would affect my service to the patients that came for medication," said Martha.

"The best thing about living with clean water is that now the patients who come for inpatient and outpatient services can drink it. Also, the inpatients can get water to bathe comfortably, [and] we can wash the bedding. We attend to the maternity wing comfortably. We sterilize the equipment, using the clean water we have now."

The Future is Looking Bright!

A year ago, you made a difference for Martha and the rest of those at the Musango Health Center and in the surrounding community. This is just the first chapter of their story as access to clean water continues to improve their lives!

Drinking station for staff and patients.

At The Water Project, we value sustainability and want to ensure that people continue to thrive. We commit to monitoring this project to ensure the water is always flowing and safe to consume. We inspect the system hardware, track water availability, conduct sanitary inspections, and collect water quality samples to identify risks. We work with our team on the ground to resolve them.

You gave Martha a crucial tool for achieving her work and dreams: access to clean water.

"Because of the borehole, we were able to upgrade our maternity wing because we have plenty of water within the facility. Women give birth here and also stay here after giving birth; then they go [home] the next day," exclaimed Martha.

Handwashing stations for patients.


Navigating through intense dry spells, performing preventative maintenance, conducting quality repairs when needed and continuing to assist community leaders to manage water points are all normal parts of keeping projects sustainable. The Water Promise community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Musango Health Center maintain access to safe, reliable water.

We’d love for you to join this world-changing group committed to sustainability.

The most impactful way to continue your support of Musango Health Center – and hundreds of other places just like this – is by joining our community of monthly givers.

Your monthly giving will help provide clean water, every month... keeping The Water Promise.


Contributors

1 individual donor(s)