Project Status



Project Type:  Protected Spring

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 350 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Sep 2024

Functionality Status:  Functional

Project Features


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Community Profile

Report Submitted by
Elvine Atsieno, IT Assistant

The 350 people of the Mayala Community struggle to access sufficient water. They use an unprotected spring as their primary water source; however, any water collected will likely make them sick.

"This water has led to several cases of health consequences; children have been affected with diarrhea because [the]water is not safe. Christine said that she couldn't count the times she had taken her [child] to the hospital because of a stomach ache. She said that when this water [point] is redone, this will be a great testimony and an answered prayer to the entire community," said field officer Elvine Atsieno.

This spring is deceiving because it looks like clean water is flowing from the discharge pipes, but water-related illnesses run rampant due to the improper filtering of the spring's water. The constant fear of illness and the draining of their vital resources of time, health, and finances is sadly typical for those who live in the community.

27-year-old farmer Christine Wesonga (shown below) shared, "This water point has had so many cases of water-related diseases, [I] am personally forced to boil drinking water so that I can manage the situation. For the children, it's very difficult to control them because sometimes when sent to fetch water, they drink directly from the water source hence leading to health problems."

Unfortunately, contamination isn't this spring's only challenge. Members of the Mayala Community wait in long lines just to collect water that will make them ill. Waiting in line removes the crucial time this community could spend on activities that enrich their lives. Instead, they must wait.

11-year-old Trizer (shown below) shares how the water crisis has burdened her. "I fetch water in the morning before going to school, and that is the same time other community members also fetch water. It's very difficult for a kid like me to be allowed to fetch water first so that I can run to school. I must queue here and wait for my turn; this makes me spend [too] much time, and [I] go to school a bit [late]. If this water[point] is redone, I will concentrate in class and improve in my studies so that my dream of becoming a nurse can come true."

Protecting the Mayala Community Spring will empower Christine to no longer worry about her children drinking contaminated water and using her precious resources on medical treatment for water-related illnesses. And hopefully, Trizer will be empowered to chase her dreams of becoming a nurse, creating a brighter future for herself and her community.

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: Mayala Community Spring Protection Complete!

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

The spring is now safe to use!

"Water is life," Janepher Munyendo, 56, said with a huge smile. "Access to clean water will enable my children and [me to] live healthy lives. This will enable me [to] save the money I've been spending on medication and invest in income-generating activities."

Janepher at the newly protected spring!

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

"I will not fall sick due to drinking dirty water. I will also improve in my studies since I will be able to attend all [my] classes and concentrate on classwork. Clean and reliable water will enable me to be healthy and, therefore, attend classes every day. This will help me improve in my class work and thus pass exams," shared 10-year-old Richmond.

Richmond splashing in clean water from the spring.

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 gathering 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.

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 pipes need 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 pipes without making contact, to prevent cross-contamination.

Beginning to construct the spring walls.

If we place the pipes 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.

Setting stones to prevent contamination.

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 pipes. 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 the reservoir.

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.

We officially gave ownership of the waterpoint to the Mayala Community.

The spring is protected and ready for use!

"When the spring users were given access to the water, it was their long-awaited hour indeed. You could easily read their gratitude and sigh of relief through their facial expressions. On top of that, they sang, danced, jumped, and laughed at the top of their voices in celebration of clean water," shared Field Officer Jaqueline Kangu.

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 Miriam Olunga (a Community Health Volunteer), Jacquey Kangu, and Mercy Odongo deployed to the site to lead the event. Thirty-six people attended the training, including twenty-five women and eleven men.

Training in session.

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 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.

Training.

"The participants were so committed and very ready to learn. They participated actively in giving views and suggestions concerning sanitation and hygiene matters," shared Jacqueline.

Ismael Orata, secretary of the water user committee, shared his experience.

Ismael at the spring.

"The most interesting topic was about water safety and management. For all these days, I've never known that keeping water in the pot for more than 3 days is wrong; it's like we are used to dirty water until our system has adjusted to it."

Thank you for making all of this possible!




July, 2024: Mayala Community Spring Protection Underway!

The lack of adequate water in Mayala 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!


Contributors

11 individual donor(s)