June, 2024: Muhoni Community Spring Protection Complete!
Muhoni Community now has access to clean water! Thanks to your donation, we transformed their spring into a flowing source of naturally filtered water. We also installed a chlorine dispenser to provide added protection and 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] am very happy to see this waterpoint constructed and serving our people well. This, in itself, is a dream come true. My grandchildren have always been concerned with the kind of water I take. They always insist I should boil water before consumption. [I] am glad they will have access to clean water whenever they visit me. My grandchildren will be able to get access to safe water for drinking, cooking, animal use, and cleaning," shared 78-year-old Juma Oloo, a farmer and the chairperson of the water user committee.
Juma at the protected spring.
Children were just as excited as adults about the new water point.
"I will be able to go and fetch water from the spring, time to time, as many rounds as I can. The spring is clean. It provides clean water and fetching will save on time. [I] am consuming clean water. I have enough time for carrying out sanitation activities at home and even have sufficient time for studies," said 13-year-old Trìzah.
Trizah, happy for clean water!
"I will create sufficient time for homework and assignments. I promised myself to perform well, compared to the last exams I did. This will be made possible through [the] availability of sufficient, clean water flowing at our spring."
"My mother is one of the happiest people I have met today after [the] completion of this waterpoint. She has easy access to clean and safe water. She will prepare meals for us using water from this waterpoint. I don't think she will have to treat [the] water or boil water like in the past."
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 into gravel. Because people have to carry most items by hand, the material-collection process can take anywhere from a few weeks to months.
When the community was ready, we sent a truck 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.
Field Officer Amos Emisiko shared, "The community participation during this period was excellent. The community members organized themselves in groups to contribute materials. One group contributed sand, another one bricks, and the other one brought stones. During the construction period, women prepared meals for artisans and community members who were helping in the construction process."
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 around the construction site from the spring's eye. 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, wire mesh, concrete, and waterproof cement.
Building the foundation.
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, which prevents cross-contamination.
If we place the discharge pipe too high above the spring's eye, back pressure 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 the clay is in short supply) and placed it at an incline to ensure water flows in the right direction.
Brickwork.
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.
Plastering.
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 close all other exits to force water through only the discharge pipe.
Backfilling with stones.
We filled 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 thick plastic 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. 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.
The completed spring.
The 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.
Celebrating.
"Women and children rushed to quench their thirst happily at the newly constructed spring. They couldn't hide their joy when they played with water praising God for the great work that was done. Mr. Juma Oloo wasn't left behind as he marched to the discharge pipe with a clear water glass to demonstrate how clean the water was. The community members sang and danced melodiously due to [the] availability of clean, and safe water in their community," said Amos.
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 families and friends.
When the day arrived, facilitators, Amos Emisiko and Mildred Mboha deployed to the site to lead the event. 15 people attended the training, including 12 women and 3 men.
We covered several topics, including community participation in the project; leadership and governance; personal, dental, and environmental hygiene; water handling and treatment; spring maintenance; the importance of primary health care and disease prevention; family planning; soapmaking; how to make and use handwashing stations; and the ten steps of handwashing.
The soapmaking session.
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.
"During [the] soapmaking activity, the trainer allowed the participants to fully participate in the process as she gave out instructions. One of the participants, nicknamed by the participants as "Mama Mdogo" meaning "small mother", stirred soap with a lot of energy while she was singing. This made the participants laugh aloud. She was happy and referred to herself as an ambassador of happiness, because people like her smile and perceive her as a very funny individual," shared Amos.
Water handling session.
"I enjoyed the topic on dental care. The new method of brushing teeth using water and brush before applying a bit of toothpaste was interesting. I learned that sugar that is left in the month or rather teeth after eating invites bacteria on our teeth. This facilitates [a] conducive environment for bacteria development which brings effects like tooth cavity damage and tooth decay. I learned it is important to brush our teeth and also eat healthily," said 18-year-old Jackline Juma.
Jackline.
Conclusion
This project required a substantial collaboration between our staff, our in-country teams, and the community members. 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 and there is guaranteed public access in the future. 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 Kenya, Uganda, and Sierra Leone, we’re working toward complete coverage. That means 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!
Rehabilitation Project
