Water that emerges as a spring can be easily tapped and used. Indeed, such sources are often highly desirable for community water supply projects as they can have a high natural water quality and require relatively basic engineering. This is both great news for the implementers (as developing the source is usually straightforward) and great news for the community who will have to look after the project into the future.
Taken as a whole, spring protection is often one of the most efficient and sustainable solution for water supply in small communities.
In many communities, natural springs exist as water flows from cracks in rocky ground or the side of a hill. Springs provide reliable water but that doesn’t mean safe. When left open they become contaminated by surface contamination, animal and human waste and rain runoff. The solution is to protect the source. First, you excavate around the exact source area of the spring. Then, you build a protective reservoir for water flow, which pours through a reinforced pipe in a concrete headwall to a paved collection area. Safe water typically flows year-round and there is very limited ongoing maintenance needed!
Rehabilitation Project
Rehabilitation is not just fixing a pump - it’s total community re-engagement.
There’s only one thing we can think of that might be worse than not having safe water: having safe water, and then losing it because a project fell into disrepair.
Rehabilitation often proves to be a big challenge, as many wells have sit idle for years and there is typically little information about the specifics of the well. A borehole and dug well rehabilitation involves quite a bit of discovery. First, our teams work to discover as much as they can about the initial project. What materials were used? Was the borehole/hand-dug well properly constructed? Many of these questions can only be answered by diving in, and doing “the work” which makes up a rehabilitation.
Once our teams have found the problem, they find the solution. Then, they reconstruct the well and install a hand pump.
Engagement and training with communities takes into account rehabilitation was needed and alters the program to suit the needs of the community. After all - engaging with this community in the same way which led to the initial, failed project will not bring new results. Our teams work to understand the social and support reasons leading to initial failure, and make those areas a focus of our ongoing engagement with communities.
Local Leadership
Local leadership is a lasting investment
Sustainable water projects only occur through the presence of local leaders. The Water Project identifies, develops, supports, and partners with local organizations who share our vision of reliable and verifiable clean water. Together, we build water programs that include responsible community development, lasting local solutions and ongoing monitoring and resolution.
Community Engagement
Community engagement is at every step of a water project.
Our engagement is rooted in relationship and includes involving the community in implementation and ongoing support, setting expectations for water point management and ongoing costs, etc. All of this happens before a water project is installed.
We use a term called ABCD: “Asset Based Community Development”. This means the community gets a leading seat at the table. Before we seek to bring anything into the community, we first seek to understand and utilize the assets that already exist within the community.
Hygiene and Sanitation Training
Community education and self-discovery about hygiene and sanitation concepts lead to improved health.
Improved health is always the goal. This is why all our projects include hygiene and sanitation training. We utilize many different methods for this training, depending on the community/institution, program and country. Training topics include disease transmission, personal hygiene and cleanliness, proper disposal of waste and proper water storage methods.
Monitoring and Resolution
Water isn’t a pump. Water is a service. And, it must be reliable.
The known benefits of water are ONLY true if water can be counted on, over time. We love celebrating when a project is complete and a community has access to clean, safe water. However, the ongoing service of water - making water reliable - is how we know our true impact.
The Water Project continues to monitor our water projects, and we provide continued support to make sure water service continues for communities.
Past water projects and the communities they serve are just as important to us as anything else we might be doing in the future.
We’re working hard to make sure your gifts result in a lasting water project for the community it serves. Our engagement with a community begins many months before construction and lasts years after construction. The timeline here is focused on the physical construction of the water project. There is also training and engagement work that has already started.
Water project construction in the developing world is hard work. A lot of things can and do cause delays - which are normal. We attempt to make our best judgment of when construction will be complete, but the circumstances surrounding actual "in the field" conditions are far from our control.
Weather, supply availability, government paperwork, and progress of community involvement are just a few of the variables that can delay (and sometimes speed up) a project's completion.
We will always tell you if anything changes. And, if you get a notice like this – it’s actually further proof your gifts are being carefully used towards a water project that lasts.
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Community Profile
This project is a part of our shared program with Western Water And Sanitation Forum. Our team is pleased to directly share the report below (edited for clarity, as needed).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
This unprotected spring is located in Mumuli Village 7km away from Kakamega County Headquarters, off Kakamega – Ingotse road, Kakamega Central Sub-county, and Lurambi Division, Shikoti location, Murumba sub-Location, Butsotso East ward. The spring serves over 25 households with a total population 175 of people including children. The population is made up of 100 females and 75 males.
Justification
During vetting of the spring by the WASH staff, it was evident that the water and sanitation situation at the unprotected spring was wanting. The spring is located downhill and since it is not protected, the water source is open to contamination by surface run off. The community members using the spring admitted that there have been cases of water borne diseases. The most affected were the children and pregnant women
The water is used for drinking for both human and animals, cooking, and irrigation on the farms especially during the dry period.
With regard to water improvement, the community members stated they have been drinking that water since they were born and very few boil or disinfect it because they cannot afford buying chlorine for the treatment and firewood or boiling. They are forced to go to the forest in search of firewood which is risky for women and children and if they are found in the forest they need to pay a fine of five hundred shillings.
Sanitation is also a big problem as many people have no good latrines and others even use bushes, also contaminating the water.
The community members are in dire need of support and are urging WEWASAFO and The Water Project to consider them and protect the spring so that they can reduce diarrhea diseases and reduce time wasted in order to engage in other economic activities.
Results of the Project:
Spring Protection
Protection of Marko Mutamba Mumuli spring is complete and now in use.
Before protection, water quality samples were collected from the spring and taken to the government laboratory for tests.The results revealed that the water from the spring was both bacteriologically and E. Coli contaminated. But now with protection and proper conservation of the water catchment area, the level of contamination has been completely minimized. Cases of water borne diseases are now expected to greatly reduce.
The community members are happy to use the spring since they know for sure that they are getting safe water. They are also confident that with the training they received from the WEWASAFO Wash team, they will now take sanitation and hygiene to the next level.
All Thanks to The Water Project for their continuous support to the community members.
Sanitation Platforms
Household sanitation platforms (cement slabs for latrine construction) have been installed for the community members who benefitted from them and are now using them.
Simon, one of the slab beneficiaries really thanked The Water Project for casting a slab for his family. He admitted that they can now use the toilet as opposed to the previous situation where they were forced to use the bush. Hygiene and Sanitation has improved in their home. Other community members are keen to replicate the same in their homes.
Project Updates
08/07/2020: Through Their Eyes: COVID-19 Chronicles with Paulo Juma Mutamba
This post is part of a new series by The Water Project meant to highlight the perspectives and experiences of the people we serve and how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting them. We invite you to read more of their stories here.
45-year-old Paulo Juma Mutamba is a farmer and pastor in Mumoli who depends on Marko Mutamba Mumuli Spring for all of hs daily water needs. He also serves as the chair of the spring’s water user committee, helping to guide and inspire his community to uphold hygiene standards and best practices at the spring while looking out for its maintenance and care.
Paulo Juma Mutamba at home.
Our team recently visited Mumuli to conduct a COVID-19 prevention training (read more about it below!) and monitor their water point. Shortly after, we returned to check in on the community, offer a COVID-19 refresher training, and ask how the pandemic is affecting their lives.
It was during this most recent visit that Paulo shared his story of how the coronavirus has impacted his life. With his two young children hanging on his every word – and maybe an arm or two – Paulo spoke plainly and patiently about the changes the pandemic has brought to him, his family, and his community.
Video Part 1: Water – Paulo reflects on the changes clean water has brought to his community since the protection of Marko Mutamba Mumuli Spring.
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Betty Muhongo Likhanga met Paulo outside his home to conduct the interview. Both Betty and Paulo observed social distancing and other precautions throughout the visit to ensure their health and safety. Their questions and answers have been edited for clarity and length.
Video Part 2: Training & Prevention – Paulo shares how his community is putting into practice what they learned from our team’s COVID-19 sensitization training.
What is one thing that has changed in your community since the protection of Marko Mutamba Mumuli Spring?
“We no longer suffer from waterborne diseases, and it takes less time to draw water unlike when the water point was not installed.”
How has having a clean water point helped you through the pandemic so far?
“The community members have been using the water from the spring to wash their hands and other water uses.”
Paulo fetches water from one of the spring’s 2 discharge pipes.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Kenya, has fetching water changed for you because of restrictions, new rules, or your concerns about the virus?
“There is no overcrowding at the spring as we need to observe social distancing. The number of times one draws water has also increased as a lot of water is used for handwashing in every household to prevent infection of COVID-19.”
Paulo fills his family’s handwashing container with water from Marko Mutamba Mumuli Spring.
How has COVID-19 impacted your family?
“Our children are not going to school because of this pandemic. It’s also difficult for a parent to have close monitoring of the children, especially teenagers.”
What other challenges are you experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic?
“We are not able to go church which is a challenge, especially for me because I am a pastor.”
Paulo washes his hands with soap and clean water from Marko Mutamba Mumuli Spring using the leaky tin handwashing station he set up outside his house.
What hygiene and sanitation steps have you and your community taken to stop the spread of the virus?
“We have improvised handwashing stations at our homes. We have encouraged community members to wash their hands so often for at least 20 seconds.”
Camera operator Allan Amadaro talks with Paulo during the interview.
Like most governments around the world, the Kenyan government continues to set and adjust restrictions both nationally and regionally to help control the spread of the disease.
What restriction were you most excited to see lifted already?
“Worship places are open, so people can now go to church and worship but while maintaining the rules and regulations put in place.”
What restriction are you still looking forward to being lifted?
“The opening of schools.”
Paulo’s son was all smiles in front of the camera.
When asked where he receives information about COVID-19, Paulo listed the radio, television, and our team’s sensitization training.
What has been the most valuable part of the COVID-19 sensitization training you received from our team?
“One, washing hands so often for at least 20 seconds helps prevent the spread of Covid-19, and two, wearing of masks when visiting social gatherings also helps to prevent the spread of the virus.”
05/27/2020: COVID-19 Prevention Training Update at Mumuli Community, Marko Mutamba Mumuli Spring
We are carrying out awareness and prevention trainings on the virus in every community we serve. Very often, our teams are the first (and only) to bring news and information of the virus to rural communities like Mumuli, Kenya.
Community member addresses the group at training
We trained more than 34 people on the symptoms, transmission routes, and prevention of COVID-19. Due to public gathering concerns, we worked with trusted community leaders to gather a select group of community members who would then relay the information learned to the rest of their family and friends.
Community member reads an informational pamphlet on COVID-19
We covered essential hygiene lessons:
– Demonstrations on how to build a simple handwashing station
– Proper handwashing technique
– The importance of using soap and clean water for handwashing
– Cleaning and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces including at the water point.
Explaining how to observe social distancing while waiting to fetch water at the spring
We covered COVID-19-specific guidance in line with national and international standards:
– Information on the symptoms and transmission routes of COVID-19
– What social distancing is and how to practice it
– How to cough into an elbow
– Alternative ways to greet people without handshakes, fist bumps, etc.
– How to make and properly wear a facemask.
A man holds the reminder chart with prevention measures listed
During training, we installed a new handwashing station with soap near the community’s water point, along with a sign with reminders of what we covered.
Question and answer session
Due to the rampant spread of misinformation about COVID-19, we also dedicated time to a question and answer session to help debunk rumors about the disease and provide extra information where needed.
The Village Administrator address the group at training
We continue to stay in touch with this community as the pandemic progresses. We want to ensure their water point remains functional and their community stays informed about the virus.
In many communities, natural springs exist as water flows from cracks in rocky ground or the side of a hill. Springs provide reliable water but that doesn’t mean safe. When left open they become contaminated by surface contamination, animal and human waste and rain runoff. The solution is to protect the source. First, you excavate around the exact source area of the spring. Then, you build a protective reservoir for water flow, which pours through a reinforced pipe in a concrete headwall to a paved collection area. Safe water typically flows year-round and there is very limited ongoing maintenance needed!
Rehabilitation Project
