Sand Dam
Rehabilitation Project
The 272 community members living in Mikame struggle to find and collect enough water to meet their daily needs. They have only two water options, and neither is efficient or effective.
They can make a three-hour trip to a dry river bed where they scoop water from holes dug into the dirt. Or they can pay a water vendor to do the same for them, which is a luxury many cannot afford. Either way, it is an exhausting, difficult way to collect water, and there is never enough water to go around.
A scoop hole where people dig down to find water.
Field Officer Alex Koech described the water situation.
"The area is characterized by steep hills, rocky surfaces, and bare dusty roads, making water collection physically demanding and time-consuming. Community members must travel long distances across difficult terrain to access water, often carrying heavy containers back home. These conditions contribute to fatigue, exhaustion, and an increased risk of injuries, particularly among women, children, and elderly residents.
Community members collect water from a scoop hole.
"Community members report frequent cases of stomach upsets, diarrhea, and other water-related illnesses resulting from the consumption of contaminated water from open scoop holes. Because these sources are exposed to contamination from animals, dust, and surface runoff, the water poses significant health risks. The illnesses place an additional burden on already vulnerable households through treatment costs, lost productivity, and reduced overall well-being.
"Beyond the health impacts, the current water situation significantly affects livelihoods, education, hygiene, and food security. Community members spend up to four hours or more each day fetching water, especially during drought periods when water levels decline and long queues form at the scoop holes. This leaves little time for farming, business activities, childcare, or other productive work. Water is often reserved for drinking and cooking, limiting its use for hygiene, sanitation, livestock, and crop production.
33-year-old farmer Kamene Sammy is familiar with the daily struggle.
She shared, "In the past year, during the drought season, I had to wake up as early as 4 am to go and fetch water from the distant scoop hole to avoid the long queues at the water point. I would return home towards midday because of the slow water recharge at the scoop hole during the drought period."
"The cost of buying water affects me greatly because the income I earn from my small shop and farm is very limited. During dry periods, when the scoop holes have little water or long queues, I am often forced to buy water from the kiosk. Although KSh 5 per 20-liter jerrycan may seem small, it becomes a significant expense when you need water every day for your family. The money I spend on water reduces what I can use for food, school needs, healthcare, and improving my farm or business. It becomes even more difficult when water-related illnesses force us to spend additional money on treatment," she continued.
Community members make the long trek home with heavy water containers.
Kamene and the other community members living in Mikame need a solution to bring safe, drinkable water near their homes so they can make progress in their daily lives. We plan to make that possible.
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 a protected 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 protected 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 our team's guidance, the community elects a water user committee representative of its diverse members. This committee assumes responsibility for maintaining the water point, organizing community efforts, and gathering fees to ensure its upkeep.
