Project Status



Project Type:  Protected Spring

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 210 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Sep 2024

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 10/03/2024

Project Features


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Community Profile

Report Submitted by
Laodia Chebet, Finance and Administrative Officer

Abatetso Community consists of 210 members who struggle to access safe, sufficient water daily. Contaminated water is their only option, forcing them to sacrifice their health.

"The water source was not well protected; it has an exposed catchment rendering it unsafe for drinking due to [a] high rate of contamination from surface runoff. This exposes the community members to waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid," field officer Laodia Chebet said while describing the local spring water source.

According to the WHO, "Children in sub-Saharan Africa are more than 14 times more likely to die before the age of 5 than children in developed regions."

It's hard for community members to drink water when they think about the consequences they will likely suffer. Water-related illnesses burden community members with ill health and consume their limited resources when they seek treatment and medication.

22-year-old Tailor Violet Matsotso (shown below) said, "Sometimes I find [it] hard for me to drink water from this water point when I think of [the] effects of consuming unsafe water."

Contamination isn't the only problem this spring presents. In the dry season, the output is very slow, causing long lines and wasting everyone's time. Most community members are farmers, so every moment not spent working takes income away from their family's resources.

"I waste a lot of time that I could have used to study waiting to fetch water since during dry season the spring is over[run]," said Melvin M., 9, seen below collecting water at the unprotected spring.

Children and women bear most of the burden of water collection, so when children spend all their time waiting in line, especially when it's culturally appropriate for adults to go before children, they lose precious time that could be spent focusing on their education and enhancing their futures.

Protecting the Abatetso Community Spring will enable people like Violet to drink water without fear of illness. Melvin and the other children will have more time to focus on studying and dreaming of a better life instead of wasting time waiting on water that will make them sick.

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


September, 2024: Abatetso Community Spring Protection Complete!

Your contribution has made access to clean water for the Abatetso 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!

"This new waterpoint will enable me [to] access water comfortably even during [the] rainy season. l will be able to fetch water fast and take my bucket of water home safely," said Mrs. Florence Malala, a 38-year-old farmer and chairperson of the water user committee.

Mrs. Florence Malala.

"It will make a difference in my children's lives because initially fetching water at this water point was not easy. It was hectic due to access, and it was time-consuming, but now they will fetch water without taking a lot of time so that [they] can also get time to go to school early as required," Mrs. Malala concluded.

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

"This new waterpoint will help my parents get access to water without struggle and prepare my morning breakfast early so that l can go to school early as required," said 10-year-old Melvin.

Melvin.

"Reliable water will impact my learning in school because l will be going early to school and learning at the expected time, and l will have ample time to study," Melvin continued.

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 collecting construction 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 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.

Laying the 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.

Setting the discharge pipe.

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.

Plastering the 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.

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.

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 got the okay from their local field officers to fetch water.

The completed spring.

We officially gave ownership of the waterpoint to the Abatetso 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 Mercy Wamalwa, Mercy Mulinge, David Mulinge, Faith Muthama, Joan Tirop, Joyce Naliaka, and Adelaide Nasimiyu deployed to the site to lead the event. Twenty-four people attended the training, including twenty-one women and three men.

Training underway.

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.

Learning to make soap.

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.

Linet Adhiambo.

"The most interesting topic was personal hygiene. We talked about [the] washing of blankets frequently. We have learned something from it. The training has impacted our community's hygiene practices by changing the myths we had, such as washing the blankets frequently will tear [it] apart. We have learned that it's healthy to wash it frequently and have more blankets to interchange after washing," said Linet Adhiambo, 45.

Thank you for making all of this possible!




July, 2024: Abatetso Community Spring Protection Underway!

The lack of adequate water in Abatetso Community costs people time, energy, and health every single day. Clean water scarcity contributes to community instability and diminishes individuals’ personal progress.

But thanks to your recent generosity, things will soon improve here. We are now working to install a reliable water point and improve hygiene standards. We look forward to sharing inspiring news in the near future!




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!