Lutaso Primary School

Project Status

Project Type: Borehole Well and Hand Pump

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 899 Served

Project Phase: In Service - Sep 2025

Functionality Status: Functional

Project Features

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The 876 students and 23 staff at Lutaso Primary School struggle every day to have sufficient water to meet their needs. Without water security, instead of everyone focusing on the most important priority of learning, their time and energy are consumed with finding and collecting water and fighting the consequences of drinking dirty water.

The school has three different water sources, but sadly, none of them are reliable, and students and staff risk their health by regularly consuming contaminated water.

"The head teacher said that several pupils, as well as teachers, [have] experienced diarrhea and typhoid, and that both groups experienced stomachaches, hence leading to absenteeism," said Field Officer Joel Shitindo.

The school has a rainwater tank, but it only fills when it rains, and with such a large population, it quickly runs dry. The school also has access to piped water, but it is unreliable, and you never know when water may come. The only other alternative is for students to bring water they collect from various unknown sources.

"As a teacher, I see the importance of water. Maintaining hydration is beneficial for both cognitive and energy levels. I need this to remain focused and awake, especially when teaching and running a classroom for a long time. Getting enough water into my body helps me stay alert and refreshed all day," said 56-year-old Gilbert Nyongesa, the Deputy Headteacher.

"Water shortages affect the pupils' capacity to drink, clean, and wash their hands. Additionally, there are some situations when pupils are burdened with having to carry water from home every morning. Their focus in class is affected, and it is very annoying. Due to a lack of water for menstruation [hygiene], female students are also compelled to return home. A lot of time is wasted as a result of this," Mr. Nyongesa continued.

"Due to insufficient water supply at the school, cooking and cleaning are severely impacted. With the large number of students at the school, this water is also insufficient," Joel continued.

"I got typhoid last week after drinking water from the tank. Therefore, I'm currently on treatment. My stomach problems have caused me to skip a few lessons. Most money is spent on problems relating to water or even on prescription drugs. Considering how much money is spent on medication for both my staff and my students, it is incredibly frustrating. Furthermore, when staff members fall ill, they neglect their responsibilities, which causes a relapse in the class schedule," Mr. Nyongesa concluded.

With clean water access, the Lutaso Primary School students and staff will regain their health and energy. This will revitalize their passion for learning and create an opportunity for a brighter future.

"The school's large population and the surrounding community will benefit from having a borehole drilled in it, hence providing them with dependable and safe water," concluded Field Officer Joel, quoted earlier.

Steps Toward a Solution

Our technical experts worked with the local community to identify the most effective solution to their water crisis. They decided to drill a borehole well, construct a platform for the well, and attach a hand pump.

Well
Abundant water often lies just beneath our feet. Aquifers—natural underground rivers—flow through layers of sediment and rock, offering a constant supply of safe water. A borehole well is drilled deep into the earth to access this naturally filtered and protected water. We penetrate meters, sometimes even hundreds of meters, of soil, silt, rock, and more to reach the water underground. Once found, we construct 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. Learn more here!

Handwashing Stations
Alongside each water source, we install two gravity-fed handwashing stations, enabling everyone at the school to wash their hands. Handwashing is crucial for preventing water-related illnesses within the school and community. Student “health clubs” maintain the stations, fill them with water, and supply them with soap, which we often teach them how to make.

Latrines
We will construct two Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrine blocks designed to prevent fecal disease transmission. Each latrine features a cement floor, making it easy to use and clean regularly. Three stalls will serve the girls, and three will serve the boys.

School Education & Ownership
Hygiene and sanitation training are integral to our water projects. Training is tailored to each school'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. To ensure a lasting impact, we support forming a student health club composed of elected student representatives and a teacher. These clubs promote hygiene practices schoolwide and keep handwashing stations well-stocked. This student-led model encourages a sense of ownership and responsibility.

Safe water and improved hygiene habits foster a healthier future for the entire school.

Project Updates

September, 2025: Lutaso Primary School Well Complete!

Your contribution has given access to clean water for the Lutaso Primary School in Kenya, thanks to the completion of their borehole well! Clean flowing water is already making a difference in the lives of the students and staff. This will provide them with a reliable water source for their daily needs.

We installed new latrines and handwashing stations, then trained students and staff on improved sanitation and hygiene practices. Together, these components will unlock the opportunity for these students to thrive!

"My grades will definitely improve. This is because I will have ample time in my studies and a surplus for consultation with my teachers, because waterborne infirmities will be a forgotten case. Dehydration will also be a past tense vocabulary. This is because I will have enough water to be able to take at least six glasses in school. My throat will not ache, and my voice will not be hoarse from dryness," said 14-year-old Gloria.

Gloria.

Teachers were just as excited as the students about the new well on campus!

Deputy Headteacher Gilbert Wakova happily shared how both his staff and students will benefit from the new waterpoint.

"The presence of this new waterpoint will enable my staff to be in school full-time because waterborne diseases will be history. This means learners will complete their curriculum in good time and adequately prepare for examinations, thus getting good grades. I will have almost 100% pupils attending school," Mr Wakova declared.

Mr. Wakova.

"Students' lives and academic performance will receive a positive impact. Most of them reported below-average grades, though intelligent. This happened due to the fact that hospitalizations ate into their academic hours. With this new waterpoint, greater grades are a surety for the learners."

How We Got the Water Flowing

The first step was to conduct a hydrogeological survey to determine the the best site for the school's well. Once we found the perfect spot, the team obtained approval from the government to begin drilling.

Parents, staff, and students all contributed to this well’s success, right from the start. To prepare for the well, the school collected fine sand and water for cement-making. When everything was ready, our drill team and staff arrived at the school to begin work.

Drilling started with excitement in the air. We continued drilling to reach a final depth of 80 meters with a final static water level of 4 meters.

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

Once we reached the optimum depth, the team inserted permanent casing, then bailed out the dirty water at the bottom of the well. The workers installed pipes, flushed them, tested the well’s yield, and chlorinated the water.

We constructed a cement well pad to seal it off from any ground-level contaminants. Tiles were installed beneath the spout to protect the cement from the erosive force of the water. We included a short drainage channel and a soak pit to prevent standing water.

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

We officially gave ownership of the new borehole to the school’s students and teachers.

Students and staff celebrated the presence of clean water on campus. The event was an excellent chance to acknowledge the school administration and students, and remind them of our continued support. Happiness, thanksgiving, and appreciation were the order of the day, flowing in all directions.

"When they were given access to the waterpoint, the headteacher took [the] lead in setting ground rules for use of the waterpoint. He then granted the pupils a chance to pump water in turns. As it gushed out, joy and happiness became the new norm for the moment," Field Officer Jemmimah Khasoha shared.

VIP Latrines

This project funded the installation of six new ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines. These new latrines have cement floors designed to be easy to use and clean. They have locking doors for safety and privacy, as well as vents to keep air flowing out through the roof. With a well right on school property, there should be enough water to keep them clean.

Handwashing Stations

We set up two handwashing stations outside the latrines. Student Health Club members will teach other students how to wash their hands at the stations properly, fill the stations with water, and ensure that there is always soap available.

School Education

We scheduled hygiene and sanitation training with the school’s staff. When the training day arrived, facilitators Jemmimah Khasoha and Daniel Mutuku deployed to the site to lead the event. 22 students and teachers attended the training.

Handwashing session.

We emphasized personal, menstrual, oral, and environmental hygiene. Proper water handling, soap-making, the ten steps of handwashing, and the importance of primary health care were discussed. We covered disease prevention, teen pregnancy, and child rights. Waterpoint, latrine, and handwashing station operation and maintenance, as well as leadership and governance were discussed. By the end of the training, each pupil understood their role in sustaining clean water and good health within their school community.

The students elected peers to lead their newly formed student health club. The student health club members will encourage good health and hygiene practices amongst their peers, teachers, and the larger community.

Soapmaking session.

"When asked why water is important, one learner voiced out, "cleaning utensils." Then he explained that for those enrolled in the lunch program within the school, cleaning utensils has been a great challenge. He went on to say that they are sometimes left with no choice but to lick their plates clean for the next meal. This made everyone burst out into laughter, though it was a sorrowful state," Field Officer Jemmimah reported.

Samuel.

"The most fascinating topic covered was [the] ten steps of handwashing. I never imagined it involved so much, and I could not help but follow through the session with a jaw drop. Like ten steps! For just handwashing! It was not adding up until all the steps were explained and demonstrated practically. I learned that germs do not reside in the palms of the hands only, but also on the wrists and the thumb," shared 13-year-old Samuel, the Vice Chairperson of the Student Health Club.

Thank you for making all of this possible!

August, 2025: Exciting Progress at Lutaso Primary School!

We’re thrilled to share that, thanks to your generous support, significant change is coming for Gilbert and the entire Lutaso Primary School community. Construction has begun on the well 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 at Lutaso Primary School!

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!