Project Status



Project Type:  Protected Spring

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 140 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Mar 2025

Functionality Status:  Functional

Project Features


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The 140 people who live in Shikose Community only have an unprotected spring to meet their daily water needs. Unfortunately, it is not a reliable water source, and the water they so desperately need is the same water that is making them sick with water-related illnesses.

"Their water point is unprotected; hence water fetched here is not safe for drinking, but because there is no other alternative water source, community [members] do use water that way. And this has resulted [in] waterborne and water-related diseases which have drained [the] community resources on seeking medication," shared field officer Jonathan Mutai.

The spring's water flows from a pipe that the community inserted into the dirt bank surrounded by rocks attempting to make collection easier and faster. The water from the pipe drains into a small pool of stagnant, muddy water that community members must stand in up to their ankles while submerging their containers into the water to fit under the spout.

"The current state of the water point does make one not to feel [like] going for water in the morning when it is very cold. When one remembers stepping in water in order to fetch it," said 48-year-old farmer Veronica Tamba, shown below with her daughter, refilling her storage containers at home with spring water.

"Besides that, I personally am a victim of waterborne ailments. We were used to boiling water for drinking, but at times [like now], getting firewood currently has become a great challenge to us. This makes us drink water at times without boiling, and this has resulted to contracting water-related ailments, which has cost us [while] seeking treatment," continued Veronica.

Thirteen-year-old Thomas N. (shown below) agrees that stepping into the cold water in the spring box is one of the worst parts of collecting from the unprotected spring. "The current water situation is not favourable to us at all. This is because going for water, especially in the morning when you have to pass through bad routes stepping on cold dews before going to step [in the] water so as to fetch it makes you hate everything that comes before you that morning. The worst thing is when you encounter long queues."

"This community has been trying their best to ensure that they get clean water or draw water at ease only that they were using local things because of limited resources. Helping them to construct their water point with technical know-how will help them access clean water without the need of wasting firewood to boil water. It will also minimize if not eradicate waterborne and water-related problems, thus helping them save their resources for constructive development and even taking their kids for further studies," concluded Jonathan.

The protection of the spring will enable people like Thomas and Veronica to collect water without worrying about becoming ill and suffering while standing in cold water.  And since water collection will be much quicker, they will have time to conserve their resources and focus on other important tasks to improve their daily lives.

The Proposed Solution, Determined Together...

At The Water Project, everyone has a part in conversations and solutions. We operate in transparency, believing it benefits everyone. We expect reliability from one another as well as our water solutions. Everyone involved makes this possible through hard work and dedication.

In a joint discovery process, community members determine their most advantageous water solution alongside our technical experts. Read more specifics about this solution on the What We're Building tab of this project page. Then, community members lend their support by collecting needed construction materials (sometimes for months ahead of time!), providing labor alongside our artisans, sheltering and feeding the builders, and supplying additional resources.

Water Access for Everyone

This water project is one piece in a large puzzle. In Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, we're working toward complete coverage of reliable, maintained water sources that guarantee public access now and in the future within a 30-minute round trip for each community, household, school, and health center. One day, we hope to report that this has been achieved!

Training on Health, Hygiene & More

With the community's input, we've identified topics where training will increase positive health outcomes at personal, household, and community levels. We'll coordinate with them to find the best training date. Some examples of what we train communities on are:

  • Improved hygiene, health, and sanitation habits
  • Safe water handling, storage & treatment
  • Disease prevention and proper handwashing
  • Income-generation
  • Community leadership, governance, & election of a water committee
  • Operation and maintenance of the water point

Chlorine Dispensers

Installing chlorine dispensers is an important piece of our spring protection projects. Protecting a spring provides community members with an improved water source, but it doesn’t prevent contamination once the water is collected and stored. For example, if the water is clean and the container is dirty, the water will become contaminated.

We ensure that each chlorine dispenser is filled with diluted chlorine on a consistent schedule so that people can add pre-measured drops to each container of water they collect. That way, community members can feel even more confident in the quality of their water.

Project Updates


March, 2025: Shikose Community Spring Protection Complete!

Your contribution has made access to clean water for the Shikose Community possible!

We transformed their spring into a flowing source of naturally filtered water. A chlorine dispenser was installed to provide added protection and we trained the community on improved sanitation and hygiene practices. Together, these components will unlock the opportunity for community members to thrive!

"Access to safe clean water will bring back dashed hope amongst us and our children. The challenge we had been experiencing of waterborne and water-related ailments will be a thing of the past. Our kids will not be missing school [as] often as before. This will help them get enough time for learning as opposed to before. Besides that, since we have contained the challenge of waterborne ailments, wherever we get will help us make them comfortable in school by buying learning materials and even getting basic needs for them so as to concentrate fully in school," shared Veronica Burudi, a 48-year-old farmer in the community.

Ms. Veronica Burudi.

Children were just as excited as adults about clean water access!

"Reliable water will impact my learning at school positively. The waterpoint will be discharging water throughout all seasons of the year, so at no given time will I waste my time on seeking water in distant places. The rate of absenteeism will reduce because of access to safe, clean water, and that will give me an opportunity of schooling regularly, thus getting enough time for learning," said 17-year-old Thomas.

Thomas in the newly protected spring.

Preparing for Spring Protection

Community members worked together to source all locally available construction materials for the spring. These included bricks, sand, stones, and fencing poles. Because people have to carry most items by hand, the material-collection process can take anywhere from a few weeks to months.

Community members gathering materials.

When the community was ready, we delivered the remaining construction materials, including cement, plastic tarps, and hardware. Then our construction artisan and field officers deployed to the spring to begin work.

Protecting the Spring: A Step-by-Step Process

First, we excavated the spring area. This includes digging a drainage channel below the spring and several runoff diversion channels above and around the spring to help divert surface contaminants away.

Excavating the spring's foundation.

To ensure community members could still access water throughout the construction process, we also dug temporary channels around the construction site to allow water to continue to flow. Excavation created space for setting the spring's foundation.

Laying the spring's foundation.

After establishing the base, made of thick plastic, wire, concrete and waterproof cement, we started brickwork to build the spring walls and stairs. Once the walls were tall enough, we began one of the most crucial steps: setting the discharge pipe. The discharge pipe needs to be positioned low enough so the water level never rises above the spring's eye, yet high enough to allow room for the average collection container (20-liters) to sit beneath the pipe without making contact, to prevent cross-contamination.

Setting the discharge pipe.

If we place the pipe too high, back pressure could force water to emerge elsewhere. Too low, and community members would not be able to access the water easily.

Building the stairs.

In coordination with the walls and stairs, we cemented stones on both sides of the spring's drainage channel. These stones discourage people and animals from standing in that area, which could cause soil erosion and a clogged drainage area.

Pitching stones to prevent erosion.

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

Plastering the spring walls.

As the walls cured, we finished the stairs and installed tiles beneath the discharge pipe. The tiles protect the concrete from the falling water's erosive force.

Installing tiles to prevent erosion.

We redirected the temporary diversion channels back into the reservoir box and closed all other exits to force water through only the discharge pipe. We filled the reservoir area with the large, clean stones arranging them in layers like a well-fitting puzzle. We covered the rocks with thick plastic and piled enough dirt on top to compensate for future settling.

Backfilling the reservoir.

Community members transplanted grass to help prevent erosion, and the collection area was fenced. The fence prevents people or animals from walking in the area above the spring, as compaction of this area can potentially compromise water quality.

Planting grass.

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

The spring is complete!

We officially gave ownership of the waterpoint to the Shikose Community.

Happiness and thanksgiving flowed in all directions!

Training on Health, Hygiene, and More

Together with the community, we found their preferred date for training. When the day arrived, facilitators Victor Musemi, Nelly Chebet, and Jonathan Mutai deployed to the site to lead the event. Eighteen people attended the training, including twelve women and six men.

Training in session.

We discussed personal, oral, and environmental hygiene, emphasizing proper water handling, soap-making, and the ten steps of handwashing. We also highlighted the importance of primary health care and covered the operation and maintenance of the water point, as well as leadership and governance. By the end of the training, each participant had a clear understanding of their role in maintaining clean water and promoting good health within their community.

We held an election for the newly formed water user committee who will oversee the maintenance of the spring. We brainstormed income-generating activities and encouraged them to start a group savings account for future minor repairs to the spring.

Soapmaking lesson.

"They learned each and every topic attentively while asking questions and responding to questions asked. They were most interested in [the] soapmaking process as it was new to them, and some wanted to take it up as a business idea which would make them busy to generate income," shared Field Officer Jonathan Mutai.

Burudi Shimaka, 51, is the village elder. He attended the training and shared with us what impacted him the most.

Burudi at the spring.

"Ten steps of handwashing. The topic of handwashing to me was very interesting simply because [I] am now [in my] fifties, yet haven't heard of it before. I even made an effort of participating to demonstrate the process after the facilitator had done it. I have learned the reason why we are not supposed to wipe our hands with hand towels while sharing with many people. Besides that, I have learned that it is not good to wash our hands with water in a basin, especially [if] all family members share hand washing water in a basin, which amounts to recycling [the] dirt."

Thank you for making all of this possible!




January, 2025: Exciting Progress in Shikose Community, Thanks to You!

We’re thrilled to share that, thanks to your generous support, significant change is coming for Veronica and the entire Shikose Community. Construction has begun on the spring protection project, bringing them one step closer to having clean, reliable water.

But that's not all—during construction, we’re also providing vital health training. These sessions equip the community with essential hygiene practices, ensuring that the benefits of clean water extend to lasting health improvements.

We’re so grateful for your role in making this possible. Stay tuned for more updates—soon, we’ll be celebrating the arrival of safe water in the Shikose Community!




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!


Contributors

8 individual donor(s)