Rehabilitation Project
The Samson Mutsani spring in the Mukongolo Community serves a whopping 350 people. It was protected over twenty years ago and has fallen into a state of disrepair. Instead of hope, it offers contaminated water and unnecessary fears to all who use it. Not only that, but due to the high number of people using it, they often wait in long lines to collect the water. When that happens, there is a distant, unprotected well with some seasonal availability, but that source isn't reliable or safe either.
Community members collect from the seasonal well.
Gertrude Dovo is 32 years old. She wears many hats, as wife, mother, and farmer. She is all too familiar with the struggles of her community's water crisis.
Ms. Dovo.
"A month ago, I became sick but couldn't quite understand what I was ailing from. I had a severe stomachache and a very sore throat. My husband took me to the hospital, where I was diagnosed with typhoid and a throat infection," she shared.
Gertrude continued, "The doctor prescribed some antibiotics that were not available at the healthcare facility. My husband had to travel twenty kilometers to buy the drugs. As peasant farmers, we cannot afford medical insurance, and that meant we had to pay for my treatment out of pocket. This resulted in a significant dent in the family's savings. As I speak to you now, we are yet to recover from that financial loss."
Gertrude carries water home to her family, almost sure of its dire consequences.
The physical and financial toll of water-related illnesses is difficult to recover from. To contribute to her family's future, Gertrude also works on other people's farms to earn extra income and meet their basic needs. But when she's sick or her children are sick, income generation takes a back seat, and they stay stuck in a cycle of scarcity.
"When not tilling my family's farm, I work in other people's farms to earn some extra income. Every time I'm taken Ill, it becomes difficult to work and that negatively impacts my earnings," she lamented.
Gertrude feels the imbalance of needing to work and care for her family. But her greatest fear is watching her children suffer the same illnesses she does.
"Ideally, no one should be drinking unsafe water, especially in the twenty-first century!" Gertrude exclaimed. "However, [the] reality is that my children and I are exposed to contaminated water very often, and that worries me a lot because my youngest son is less than two years old, meaning he's more vulnerable than the rest of us. I try to take care of that by boiling drinking water, but that can't stop children from drinking straight from the spring whenever they go to fetch water."
Hardships abound, and Gertrude lives, waiting for the next crisis. "Life hasn't been the same since this waterpoint broke down. I worry all the time due to the fact that the water quality isn't guaranteed. Just the thought of having a sick child as a result of drinking contaminated water sends chills down my spine."
Repairing and protecting the spring will ensure that the water is properly filtered, Gertrude and her family will consume safe water, and won't have to live in fear of the very foundational building block that has the power to help them thrive.
"Without water, I have no life. My entire life revolves around access to clean water. I'm really looking forward to the day I won't have to worry about the quality of the water I drink every day," she concluded.
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.
