Rehabilitation Project
The Shivotio Community's 800 residents struggle to access sufficient water as their broken-down water source, Kambongo Spring, is extremely overcrowded. The intense wait times leave the community unity as broken as their water source.
Community members crowd the waterpoint.
Field Officer Lillian Achieng' described the state of the spring. She said, "The waterpoint is in [a] terrible state. The place is muddy, and no concrete is visible at the drawing point. The flooding water at the drawing point worsens the situation; users have to step [into] the water. The spring box has been tampered with by stepping on [it], causing the water to divert."
The dilapidated spring.
In Western Kenya, community is everything. People rely on each other and need and support one another. So when there is discord, it not only causes conflict but also breaks down the ecosystem that holds everything in place and helps them thrive.
"Fights have been witnessed at this waterpoint. Our interviewee, Rose, attests to having thrown away a water user's jerrycans who had attempted to go before her. This was during the dry season, and the spring was overcrowded. Bad blood has been created due to [these] fights, causing the village elders to intervene to restore peace," continued Lillian.
These aren't petty disagreements because someone wanted to go first. Every moment spent waiting to collect water is time not spent on livelihoods and education. Every second wasted collecting water from the spring steals from their ability to improve their lives. People are tired and hungry and need water to function.
Rose in the spring.
50-year-old Rose Ayieta feels the tension acutely. She shared, "My children have had encounters with fellow children at the waterpoint. Adults have undermined them, pushed them back at the queue, and made them draw water after them, despite having arrived at the spring ahead of them."
Children playing.
But it's not just her children's safety that worries Rose. She fears for their health every day. The water they sacrifice so much for makes them sick often. This means expensive hospital trips and medications that they can't afford. It's the hardest place for a parent to be.
"My daughter had an excruciating headache, stomachache, nausea and chills. At first, I thought it was Malaria, so I took her to our nearby health center. Being a government institution, tests were done freely, and the results were negative. I took her back home, hoping that she would get better, not knowing [what] she was suffering from. Unfortunately, as I was still planning how to find more medical attention for her, the doctors went [on] strike country-wide," she shared.
"Rendered helpless, and my daughter's health deteriorating, I had no option but to run to the private hospital for help. The doctor suggested a test for typhoid. The test was [going] to cost me 600 Kenyan shillings. I had to ask for help from my relatives because I didn't have the money. The results came out positive. Trouble had not ended. The doctor prescribed medication that would cost another 700 Kenyan shillings. I am lucky that my daughter is well now, but it pained me so much to spend what I couldn't afford," Rose bravely continued.
"A lot of my farm work had to be postponed when I was running up and down to attend to my sick daughter. Weeds outgrew my plants, resulting in [a] poor harvest," she continued.
"Nothing hurts a mother more than seeing her very own suffer in pain caused by diseases. The fear of another one falling sick is always with me. I live a worried woman for the sake of my family."
Rose has big dreams of what she would do if she didn't have to spend so much time collecting water and worrying. She said, "Being a farmer, I would spend much of my time at the farm and also spare some to sell my produce at the market. When I am not on the farm, I would get ample time to spend with my children. They never get enough of me because I am ever engaged."
Rose dreams of clean water so her family can be safe and well provided for every day. She wants time to spend with her children, knowing they need as much from her emotionally as physically. Easy access to safe water would give Rose the tools needed to achieve her goals. She has the motivation; now she needs the means.
Steps Toward a Solution
Our technical experts worked with the local community to identify the most effective solution to their water crisis. They decided to safeguard the existing flowing spring.
Spring Protection
Springs are natural water sources that originate from deep underground. As water travels through various layers of the earth, it undergoes a natural filtration process, making it cleaner and safer to drink. To protect these spring sources from contamination, we construct a waterproof cement structure around layers of clay, stone, and soil. This design channels the spring water through a discharge pipe, facilitating easier, faster, and cleaner water collection.
Chlorine Dispenser
As an extra measure towards water quality safety, uniquely engineered chlorine dispensers are installed at all of our spring protection projects so community members can treat their water with pre-measured doses of chlorine. The chlorine treats any residual contamination and stays active for two to three days, ensuring water stays safe to use even when stored at home. Chlorine delivery and maintenance of the dispensers are part of our ongoing community support.
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 the guidance of our team, a water user committee representative of the community's diverse members assumes responsibility for maintaining the water point, often gathering fees to ensure its upkeep.
