Project Status



Project Type:  Protected Spring

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 350 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Jan 2023

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 08/09/2024

Project Features


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The 350 people of Lukova are not healthy or wealthy enough to farm the majority of their own lands. Both the medical and money problems can be attributed to one thing: water.

When our field officers first entered Lukova, they were struck by the vast, rolling hills of sugarcane plantations that lined every road and outlined the homesteads. However, when we asked Lukova's people whose impressive farms those were, we were told that the fields were "leased to rich men" who can afford such an enterprise. Community members in Lukova farm on a much smaller scale.

Pervasive cases of typhoid affect people throughout the entire community, so they spend a lot of their money on medication. One such example is 50-year-old farmer Jane Alfred.

"My wellbeing has been affected [by] using this water," Jane said. "Healthwise, I have experienced water-related diseases uncountable times, not to mention my children and grandchildren. The budget of treating all of us falls back on me since I am a widow."

"Sometimes, I wish I belonged to a community that has a protected spring," said 13-year-old Lillian L. (shown below collecting water). "My friends at school who have protected springs laugh at me and say that me and my family drink 'rotten cats'. To them, cats die in open water pools. They refuse to share my water when I give [it to] them. It makes me sad."

And as if the contaminated water and bullying weren't enough, the spring is also difficult to access, especially for Lukova's oldest and youngest residents.

"Physically, I have to kneel and hurt my knees so that I can carry the filled container out of the spring pool," said Jane, shown above.

An easy-to-access spring with safe water will protect the residents of Lukova from future health issues and open up time and opportunities they've never known before.

What We Can Do:

Spring Protection

Protecting the spring will help provide access to cleaner and safer water and reduce the time people have to spend to fetch it. Construction will keep surface runoff and other contaminants out of the water. With the community’s high involvement in the process, there should be a good sense of responsibility and ownership for the new clean water source.

Fetching water is a task predominantly carried out by women and young girls. Protecting the spring and offering training and support will, therefore, help empower the female members of the community by freeing up more of their time and energy to engage and invest in income-generating activities and their education.

Training on Health, Hygiene and More

To hold trainings during the pandemic, we work closely with both community leaders and the local government to approve small groups to attend training. We ask community leaders to invite a select yet representative group of people to attend training who will then act as ambassadors to the rest of the community to share what they learn. We also communicate our expectations of physical distancing and wearing masks for all who choose to attend.

The training will focus on improved hygiene, health, and sanitation habits in this community. With the community’s input, we will identify key leverage points where they can alter their practices at the personal, household, and community levels to affect change. This training will help to ensure participants have the knowledge they need about healthy practices and their importance to make the most of their water point as soon as water is flowing.

Our team of facilitators will use a variety of methods to train community members. Some of these methods include participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation, asset-based community development, group discussions, handouts, and demonstrations at the spring.

One of the most important issues we plan to cover is the handling, storage, and treatment of water. Having a clean water source will be extremely helpful, but it is useless if water gets contaminated by the time it is consumed. We and the community strongly believe that all of these components will work together to improve living standards here, which will help to unlock the potential for these community members to live better, healthier lives.

We will then conduct a small series of follow-up trainings before transitioning to our regularly scheduled support visits throughout the year.

Training will result in the formation of a water user committee, elected by their peers, that will oversee the operations and maintenance of the spring. The committee will enforce proper behavior around the spring and delegate tasks that will help preserve the site, such as building a fence and digging proper drainage channels. The fence will keep out destructive animals and unwanted waste, and the drainage will keep the area’s mosquito population at a minimum.

Project Updates


January, 2023: Lukova Community Spring Protection Complete!

Lukova Community now has access to clean water! We transformed Reuben Mukalo Spring into a flowing source of naturally filtered water thanks to your donation. Our team also trained the community on improved sanitation and hygiene practices. Together, these components will unlock the opportunity for community members to live better, healthier lives.

"I’m now in a position to comfortably fetch water without [the] risk to fall in the water. [It is also] time-saving, since I don’t spend time scooping water at the water point like before," said 57-year-old farmer Reuben Mukalo (the spring's namesake, since he owns the land on which the spring sits).

Reuben fills his water jug.

Children were just as excited as adults about the new waterpoint.

"I will be safe from falling into the water point due to the provision of good stairs, since I once slipped and fell into the unprotected spring after it had rained and hurt my leg. I also don’t waste much time scooping water like I used to do before," said 11-year-old Samwel M.

Samwel having a drink of clean water.

Preparing for Spring Protection

Community members worked together to source and carry all locally available construction materials to the spring. These included bricks, sand, stones, and fencing poles. Some people also chiseled away at large rocks to break them down into gravel. Because people have to carry most items by hand, the material-collection process can take anywhere from a few weeks to months.

Community members gather materials.

When the community was ready, we sent a lorry to deliver the remaining construction materials, including cement, plastic tarps, and hardware. Then, our construction artisan and field officers deployed to the spring to begin work. Individual households provided meals throughout each day to sustain the work team.

From Open Source to Protected Spring: A Step-by-Step Process

First, we cleared and excavated the spring area. Next, we dug a drainage channel below the spring and several runoff diversion channels above and around the spring. These help to divert surface contaminants away.

To ensure community members could still access water throughout the construction process, we also dug temporary channels from the spring's eye around the construction site. This allowed water to flow without disrupting community members' tasks or the construction work. Excavation created space for setting the spring's foundation, made of thick plastic tarp, wire mesh, concrete, and waterproof cement.

After establishing the base, we started brickwork to build the headwall, wing walls, and stairs. Once the walls had grown tall enough, we began one of the most crucial steps: setting the discharge pipe. The discharge pipe needs to be positioned low enough in the headwall so the water level never rises above the spring's eye, yet high enough to allow room for the average jerrycan (a 20-liter container) to sit beneath the pipe without making contact.

If we place the discharge pipe too high above the spring's eye, backpressure could force water to emerge elsewhere. Too low, and community members would not be able to access the water easily. We embedded the pipe using clay (or mortar when clay is in short supply) and placed it at an incline to ensure water flows in the right direction.

In coordination with brickwork, we pitched stones on both sides of the spring's drainage channel. We then cemented and plastered each stone, forming the rub walls. These walls discourage people and animals from standing in that area, which could cause soil erosion and a clogged drainage area.

We then cemented and plastered both sides of the headwall and wing walls. These finishing layers reinforce the brickwork and prevent water in the reservoir from seeping through the walls. In turn, enough pressure builds in the reservoir box to push water out through the discharge pipe.

As the headwall and wing walls cured, we cemented and plastered the stairs and installed four tiles beneath the discharge pipe. The tiles protect the concrete from the falling water's erosive force while beautifying the spring and facilitating easy cleaning of the spring floor.

The final stage of construction is backfilling the reservoir box behind the discharge pipe. We cleared the collection box of any debris that may have fallen during construction. Then we redirected the temporary diversion channels back into the reservoir box, channeling water into this area for the first time. We closed off all of the other exits to start forcing water through the discharge pipe only.

We filled up the reservoir area with the large, clean stones community members had gathered, arranging them in layers like a well-fitting puzzle. We covered the rocks with a thick plastic tarp to minimize potential contamination sources, then piled enough dirt on top to compensate for future settling.

Community members transplanted grass onto the backfilled soil to help prevent erosion. Finally, the collection area was fenced to discourage any person or animal from walking on it. Compaction can lead to disturbances in the backfill layers and potentially compromise water quality.

Planting grass.

The entire construction process took about two weeks of work and patience to allow the cement and plaster to finish curing. As soon as the spring was ready, people got the okay from their local field officers to fetch water.

We officially handed over the spring to mark the community's ownership of the water point. Happiness, thanksgiving, and appreciation were the order of the day, flowing in all directions.

"Community members sang and danced at the water point with great smiles on their faces. Following this, Mr. Reuben Mukalo prayed and dedicated the project [into] God’s hands. We then went ahead and opened the water point officially for the community members to use," said field officer Joel Shitindo.

Training on Health, Hygiene, and More

Together with the community, we found their preferred date for training while considering other community calendar events, such as the agricultural season and social events. We requested a representative group of community members to attend training and relay the information learned to the rest of their family and friends.

When the day arrived, facilitators Joel and Victor deployed to the site to lead the event. 18 people attended the training, including 11 women and seven men. We held the training compound of the landowner, Reuben Mukalo.

Learning proper hand washing techniques.

We covered several topics, including community participation in the project, leadership and governance, personal and environmental hygiene, water handling and treatment, spring maintenance, dental hygiene, the ten steps of handwashing, disease prevention, and how to make and use handwashing stations.

Learning how to make soap.

During the leadership and governance session, we held an election for the newly formed water user committee leaders, who will oversee the maintenance of the spring. We also brainstormed income-generating activities. Community members can now start a group savings account for any future minor repairs to the spring and a cooperative lending group, enabling them to develop small businesses.

Learning about disinfecting water through solar energy.

During the water treatment and handling session, participants enjoyed learning about solar water disinfection. They had never heard of using the sun to treat water and were happy to know they could practice the free method without difficulty.

Water User Committee.

"This training was very valuable to me since I have known how to maintain the water point. Also, I’m now able to make my own soap locally without buying [it] at the market," said Reuben (quoted earlier).

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 spring, the water user committee is equipped with the necessary skills to rectify the problem and ensure the water point 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!




October, 2022: Lukova Community Spring Protection Underway!

A severe clean water shortage in Lukova 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!




Project Photos


Project Type

Springs are water sources that come from deep underground, where the water is filtered through natural layers until it is clean enough to drink. Once the water pushes through the surface of the Earth, however, outside elements like waste and runoff can contaminate the water quickly. We protect spring sources from contamination with a simple waterproof cement structure surrounding layers of clay, stone, and soil. This construction channels the spring’s water through a discharge pipe, making water collection easier, faster, and cleaner. Each spring protection also includes a chlorine dispenser at the waterpoint so community members can be assured that the water they are drinking is entirely safe. Learn more here!


A Year Later: Time for School and Play!

March, 2024

A year ago, your generous donation helped the Lukova Community in Kenya access clean water – creating a life-changing moment for Adelide. Thank you!

Keeping The Water Promise

There's an incredible community of monthly donors who have come alongside you in supporting clean water in Lukova Community 2.

This giving community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Lukova Community 2 maintain access to safe, reliable water. Together, they keep The Water Promise.

We’re confident you'll love joining this world-changing group committed to sustainability!

Adelide, 8, recalled what life was like in the Lukova Community before her community's spring was protected last year.

"It was [so] hard that I used to fear coming to the spring because of the poor terrain that led into the spring. Breaking my bucket or container if I fell would result in a thorough beating from my mum, and so a thought of coming to the spring would give me goosebumps," said Adelide.

Collecting water is now much simpler and faster for Adelide and the other community members in Lukova.

"Getting water now is much easier. The place is well maintained, and the access is easy due to the staircases. I even enjoy fetching water, for I am no longer scared of falling. I spend less time to fill my container, unlike before, where I would insert the container into the open pool," said Adelide.

Having ready access to water from the spring has made a difference for Adelide, allowing her time for school and play.

"Since the spring was protected, I have enough water in my home. I can do my school assignments on time and even have enough time to play with my friends. I have also learned how to treat water at the water point using the chlorine in the dispenser. This is something I had never known," Adelide said.

Adelide collects clean water.


Navigating through intense dry spells, performing preventative maintenance, conducting quality repairs when needed and continuing to assist community leaders to manage water points are all normal parts of keeping projects sustainable. The Water Promise community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Lukova Community 2 maintain access to safe, reliable water.

We’d love for you to join this world-changing group committed to sustainability.

The most impactful way to continue your support of Lukova Community 2 – and hundreds of other places just like this – is by joining our community of monthly givers.

Your monthly giving will help provide clean water, every month... keeping The Water Promise.


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