Nduumoni Community 3A

January, 2023: Nduumoni Community Sand Dam Complete!

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

"Water from this point will shorten the long treks I had in the search for water. I hope to start venturing into farming to help boost my food and income security," said 45-year-old farmer Anna Klio.

"I originally had plans to plant trees, and currently, I have attained a maximum of 70 trees since we finished the project. Onwards, I trust I will be able to plant many trees that will help me in the future as well as beautify our environment."

"Now, I will have clean water for drinking, washing clothes, and cooking. I will no longer waste time fetching water. I really missed playing and visiting my relatives, which I will now achieve because the work is now easy," said nine-year-old Wambua K.

"[The new] trees make our environment welcoming. It is a source of income, too. Fruit trees do very well in our region. Therefore, I would love to establish my little fruit farm when I grow up. I adore what my father does and would proudly follow his steps to success."

Sand Dam Construction Process

The members of Wathanaa Self-Help Group collected all of the local materials, like rocks and sand, required to complete the dam. The collection of raw construction materials takes longer than the actual construction, lasting up to four months for a large sand dam. The group also dedicated their time and energy to support our artisans with physical labor throughout the project.

First, our team drew siting and technical designs and presented them to the Water Resources Management Authority. We also sent a survey to the National Environment Management Authority for approval before we began construction.

Once the plans were approved, we established firm bedrock at the base of the sand dam wall. In the absence of good bedrock, we excavate to a depth at which the ground is compact enough to stop seepage.

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

Once the foundation was complete, we built a timber skeleton to hold the sludge and rocks above ground level. Once our first layer dried, 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 46 meters long and five meters high and took 1,117 bags of cement to build.

With this water, the surrounding landscape will become lush and fertile, and the well will provide drinking water to the community. It could take up to three years of rain for this sand dam to reach maximum capacity because in this region, sometimes it only rains once a year!

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 group's favorite topic was disease transmission, which was not only informative, but also provided an opportunity for healthy competition, as we split the group into two smaller units to identify five different disease transmission routes based on illustrations. When sharing their thoughts with the others, each group took the opportunity to critique the others' presentations.

"Through this training, I have learned how we get infections from eating dirt," said 74-year-old group chairperson Elijah Munyao. "I have also seen the need to have good sanitation infrastructures in our homes, especially latrines. Our knowledge has increased, and we are thankful. The soap training has enabled us to have an income-generating activity and have quality soap in our community."

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 Nduumoni.

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!

November, 2022: Nduumoni Community Sand Dam Project Underway!

A severe clean water shortage in Nduumoni Community drains people’s time, energy, and health. Thanks to your generosity, we’re working to install a clean water point and much more.

Get to know this community 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!