Rehabilitation Project
The Kasithyu Community is home to 4,000 people who do not have a nearby water source. It takes community members over an hour to travel to a distant well to collect water. They often wait in line for six hours, and then they have to make the trek back. This arduous, draining process limits the amount of water they can bring home and steals their time.
"The water points in the area are not sustainable because they run low and dry up as the drought season progresses. The borehole water kiosks are also closed during most days of the week due to water shortage, and when water is available, every community member comes to fetch water, leading to overcrowding. They also need to purchase the water at 5 Ksh per 20-liter jerrycan, which is costly considering that residents are mostly farmers who reap very little from their farms due to drought," shared Field Officer Alex Koech.
53-year-old Margaret Munyalo sacrifices much of her time and energy to collect a bare minimum amount of water. The time she spends steals from her livelihood and her children's chance to get a good education.
Margaret.
"I have had to wait for water in the past year for two days. This delay was primarily due to the limited capacity of the borehole water kiosks, which frequently run dry during the dry season. The need to purchase water from distant sources also contributes to the long wait times, as transportation could be delayed, especially during peak demand periods," shared Margaret.
Margaret is trepidatious about the long walk to the well. "The available water is located far away, and walking there through the bushes is dangerous because of poisonous snakes."
As a farmer, it's crucial for her to work to ensure a healthy crop, but when she spends most of her day waiting for water, she can't work. The water crisis has devastated her income.
Installing a sand dam in her community will give Margaret a nearby water source, which will be a total game-changer in her life. She'll have time to care for her farm and her children. Her income will be increased and she will have the tools to thrive.
"I would spend my money on basic household commodities and paying school fees for my children," shared Margaret when we asked how a new waterpoint would change her life.
Margaret collects water at the distant well.
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.
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 sand dam and dug well.
Sand Dam
Sand dams are sought-after, climate-smart, and lasting water solutions providing hope and resilience to communities in arid Southeastern Kenya. Think of them like giant sandboxes constructed in seasonal rivers that would typically quickly dry up after the rainy season. Instead of holding water like traditional dams, they collect sand and silt.
When infrequent rains do come, these dams catch a percentage of the river's flow, letting most of the water continue downstream to other communities. But here's the magic: the sand they collect acts like a natural filter, holding onto water long after the river's gone dry. Then, wells are constructed nearby, creating a reliable water source even during the driest times.
And the benefits don't stop there! In communities impacted by climate change, sand dams replenish groundwater and prevent soil erosion. Even during severe droughts, the consistent water supply from these sand dams allows farmers to thrive, giving way for enough food not only for their families but also to sell in local markets.
The most remarkable aspect of sand dams is how they involve the local community every step of the way, giving them a sense of ownership and pride in solving their own water shortage and managing their own water resources.
This sand dam will be connected to a dug well to make the water more accessible.
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.
