Rehabilitation Project
Two hundred eighty people reside in the Luokho Community, with only one broken-down spring that often runs dry, serving as the primary water source for everyone to share. When water is flowing, it's full of contaminants that cause diseases like typhoid.
The broken-down spring box is leaving the water open to contaminants.
Field Officer Gladys Chepkorir shared the community's efforts to solve their water crisis. "They tried to protect the waterpoint by themselves, but due to [a] lack of skills, they didn't manage to curb the contaminants. Continuous contraction of diseases like typhoid has been a major threat to the community's health."
Just one day of unsafe water can make someone dangerously ill. For those who drink it every day, the consequences are even worse.
Travis is only seven. He has never lived without a water crisis, and that is an exhausting life.
Travis.
We asked him how often he falls ill. He said, "More often because water is prone to contaminants due to [the] open spring box."
Travis described how he felt when illness struck. "I could feel like vomiting and [was] not able to walk properly. I was feeling pain all over my body."
As you can imagine, when Travis contracts typhoid, he is unable to attend school. He can't play with his friends or enjoy time with his family. The water crisis in his community is consuming his present and leaving his future uncertain.
It's not just the bouts of typhoid that steal his time. Every morning before class, Travis must fetch water. He wakes early, finishes his chores, walks to the spring, and waits in line—hoping water is available. Then he carries a heavy jerrycan home before starting the walk to school.
By the time he sits at his desk, he is already exhausted. Any energy he could've put into his education is washed away in the contaminated water that flows from the spring.
Children gather at the spring to collect water.
Travis’ story reflects what many children here face—but change is possible.
When we protect the Luokho Community spring, water won't be the only thing in great supply. Travis will have time and energy again, and his constant illness will be a vague memory. Hope and opportunity arise from access to clean water. Repairing this spring will ensure Travis can enjoy them to the fullest.
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 possible 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.
