Gambo Community 2

Project Status

Project Type: Protected Spring

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 210 Served

Project Phase: In Service - Feb 2026

Functionality Status: Functional

Project Features

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In the Gambo Community, 210 residents have lived with a water crisis for seven long years. Their current spring, though once protected, causes more harm than good. The water it provides is unsafe, causing skin rashes, stomach problems, and mouth sores. It also provides frustration, income loss and fear.

Community member collecting water.

John Mudonyi, a 71-year-old farmer, knows all too well the problems of this water source.

"A few months ago, I had a serious throat infection which couldn't respond to treatment. After several visits to the nearby mission hospital without recovery, I was referred to a level five hospital. The doctor couldn't understand why the illness was not responding to drugs, and he decided to refer me to a private laboratory for a throat cancer test! Luckily, the test returned a negative result. I was given stronger drugs which eventually cured the infection."

Mr. Mudonyi.

In all this chaos of trying to find out his mysterious illness, John wasn't able to work for a whole week. Being a farmer every moment of work is crucial. To matters worse, his medical care was very expensive."

"During my most recent health scare, the doctor prescribed very expensive antibiotics, which drained me financially. The tests conducted on me cost a fortune. I don't qualify for health insurance due to my advanced age, and that means I have to pay from my pocket. When I was taken ill and had to undergo cancer testing, I had to be away for a week, which meant I didn't work at all. That made me lose income." John shared.

The physical and monetary cost of using this spring prevents John from being able to get ahead and pursue his goals.

"Nobody should be so unfortunate as to drink harmful water, especially in this century. Treating water-related illnesses is not cheap, and it shouldn't be happening anyway," John said.

John not only has his own health and wellbeing to care for. He has children and grandchildren that he helps care for and provide for. The spring is currently dangerous to access, causing injuries to those who go to collect the contaminated water.

Field officer Daniel Mwanzia described the setting as follows: "Descending to and ascending from this waterpoint is not an easy task. The terrain is quite steep and becomes very slippery when wet. It's very likely that community members can get injured as they head to collect water."

"Last year, my grandson slipped and broke his arm as he was heading to the waterpoint. I don't want that to happen to me, any of my family members, or anyone else in the community," he shared.

John carries a heavy weight of worry every day for his and his community's health. He knows that clean, accessible water is the foundation for building a better life.

"Water is important to me because my family can enjoy fresh vegetables from the farm throughout the year, including dry seasons. This is achievable through irrigation. Simply put, water is everything! However, the quality of this water is crucial."

With clean water access, John would have the tools he needs to achieve his goals!

"I could engage in meaningful and productive activities like weeding my farm or looking for income-generating opportunities. I'm also a community leader and would love to spend time responding to the needs of my people," John concluded when we asked what he would do if he didn't have to spend so much time and energy collecting water.

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.

Project Updates

February, 2026: Gambo Community Spring Protection Complete!

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

We transformed their spring into a flowing source of naturally filtered water. A chlorine dispenser is 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 clean water will improve health because of reduced waterborne diseases. So, our children will have more time for learning as opposed to being out of school when seeking medication. That time will be utilized for their studies, and also they will be attending school regularly as a result of access to clean water free from contaminants," shared John Mudonyi, a 73-year-old farmer.

John Mudonyi enjoys clean water.

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

"Personally, reliable water will help me save time spent on fetching water, and that saved time will help me focus on my studies or use it to help my parents in doing household chores like cleaning utensils, sweeping [the] compound, and even attending to my younger siblings," said 18-year-old Hilda.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

We officially transferred ownership of the waterpoint to the Gambo Community.

Happiness and thanksgiving flowed in all directions!

Training on Health, Hygiene, and More

Together with the community, we determined their preferred training date. When the day arrived, facilitators Nelly Chebet and Jonathan Mutai deployed to the site to lead the event. 15 people attended the training, including 13 women and two men.

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, which 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.

Field Officer Jonathan Mutai shared about the training: "Phyllis, a community health volunteer, had gotten a pictorial chart of ways of contaminating water. In the picture, someone was seen swimming in the river, others [were] washing clothes, and animals [were] grazing around the water point, and a child [was] defecating near the water bodies. She used the opportunity to discourage the participants from such practices and urged them to avoid even washing clothes near their water points, because it may cause waterborne ailments. Everyone affirmed that the pictures were depicting exactly what was happening in that community."

Dorcas Kageha.

"Today's training has helped me understand the importance of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene in preventing diseases. It has helped me understand correct ways of doing things, like [the] size of toothpaste to be applied while brushing teeth, and [the] proper way of handwashing with soap and clean running water," noted 58-year-old businesswoman and water committee treasurer, Dorcas Kageha.

Thank you for making all of this possible!

December, 2025: Exciting Progress in Gambo Community!

We’re thrilled to share that, thanks to your generous support, significant change is coming for John Mudonyi and the entire Gambo 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 Gambo Community!

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!