Sand Dam
Rehabilitation Project
Sixteen-year-old Catherine spends much of her free time walking. The scoop hole her family relies on sits several kilometers from home in the Katuva Community in western Kenya, across dusty, rocky paths that make the trip slow and tiring even before she reaches the water. She, along with 500 community members, struggles to access safe, sufficient water daily.
Catherine.
"Fetching water takes a long time because the scoop hole is located several kilometers from my home," she said. "I have to walk a long distance over dusty and rocky paths, and when I get there, I sometimes have to wait for other people who are also collecting water. The journey to and from the water source takes up a lot of time and energy that I could otherwise use for studying or resting."
The round trip costs her about two hours a day, and even then, the water she carries home isn't necessarily safe. Though the scoop hole is fenced with thorns, animal waste collects around it, and dust and waste seep easily into the water — leaving it saline, brownish, and foul-smelling.
Catherine worries about more than the walk itself. "I worry about safety because the water source is far from home, and I have to walk long distances through rocky and dusty terrain," she said. "Carrying heavy containers of water can be exhausting and increases the risk of slipping and getting injured. I am also concerned about the quality of the water because the scoop hole is open and exposed to contamination from animals, dust, and other impurities that can make people sick."
The safety risk goes beyond illness - every day the hole gets deeper and deeper, risking collapse with each water collection.
Catherine deep in the scoop hole.
And the shortage isn't constant — it worsens with the seasons. "There is not enough water because the scoop hole depends on rainfall, yet our area often experiences long dry periods and drought," she explained. "When the rains fail, the amount of water available decreases significantly, making it difficult for everyone to access enough water. This makes me feel worried and frustrated because water is something we need every day, yet it is never guaranteed that we will find enough of it when we need it."
Catherine stands in the scoop hole - that gets deeper every day - to collect water.
For Catherine, the cost of that uncertainty shows up most clearly in her education. "I spend much of my evenings, weekends, and school holidays helping my family fetch water," she said. "By the time I get home, I am often tired and unable to concentrate fully on my homework or revision. Sometimes I have less time to study than I would like, which affects my preparation for exams and can impact my academic performance."
Even the act of being sent to fetch water weighs on her. "I often feel tired and discouraged because I know it will take a long time and require a lot of effort. Sometimes I worry about the assignments and revision time I will miss while fetching water," she said. "However, I understand that my family needs water for daily use, so I help whenever I can."
Catherine gives it her all to haul water all the way home.
What keeps her going is a clear sense of what she's working toward. "My dream is to become a teacher," Catherine said. "I want to complete my education successfully and eventually help children learn and achieve their goals. I believe education can transform lives, and I hope to use my future career to make a positive difference in my community."
A closer, safer water source, she believes, would help her get there. "If I did not have to spend so much time fetching water, I would dedicate more time to my studies and completing my assignments," she said. "I would also revise for my exams, read books, and participate in other school activities. Having extra time would help me improve my academic performance and bring me closer to achieving my dream of becoming a teacher."
Catherine is one of 502 people in Katuva Community who depend on the same scoop hole, along with an estimated 157 more from a neighboring community who share it. Only about a quarter of them can reach a water source within a 30-minute round trip, and the terrain between home and water — steep, dusty, and rocky — makes the burden even heavier, especially for the women, children, and elderly residents who do most of the walking.
"A new water point closer to our community would make me much safer because I would not have to travel such long distances carrying heavy containers," she said. "It would reduce the risk of accidents, injuries, and exhaustion. If the water is clean and protected, it would also reduce the chances of suffering from stomach upsets and other water-related illnesses that affect my health and studies."
She is clear about what that time and health would mean for her future. "I would feel relieved and happy if we had a reliable water source nearby," she said, "because it would give me more time to study, rest, and pursue my goals."
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.
