Project Status



Project Type:  Protected Spring

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 490 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Oct 2024

Functionality Status:  Functional

Project Features


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Community Profile

Report Submitted by
Adelaide Nasimiyu, Training Officer

The Khainga Community, comprising of 490 people, faces difficulty in accessing safe drinking water. Despite having ample supply from their spring, the community members endanger their health every time they consume the water.

"The water looks clear, but it is not safe to drink," said field officer Adelaide Nasimiyu.

"This spring was protected [a] long time ago by the community members. They came together, formed a committee, contributed some money, and constructed the spring. Due to [the] lack of funds to repair the spring, it broke down. The backfill area is not well covered, causing contamination [of] the drinking water. If this water point can be repaired or protected, [it] can save a lot [of] the people of Khainga Community from consuming contaminated water," Adelaide continued.

Community members report suffering from water-related illnesses like stomachache, diarrhea, and typhoid, which leave them feeling miserable but also require them to use much-needed resources to seek medical treatment instead of making progress in their daily lives.

"This spring has been serving us for many years since I got married in this community. During the early days, we never used to treat it because it was safe for us to drink, but as the days [went] by, the water has become unsafe for us to drink the way it is. I remember before we started treating our water, the whole family became sick. The adults and young ones had diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach aches. The doctor said that it was because of the water we drank. We were treated and became well and healthy. That made us start treating our drinking water by boiling and using chlorine," said 61-year-old farmer Sarah Khamati (seen below).

Although community members did their best to protect the spring, there are some systemic issues that need to be remedied. The water filtration can not be trusted, the spring box floor is crumbling, the walls surrounding the collection pipes are covered in algae, and access is difficult.

"The access is a challenge because of the broken stairway. One has to be extra careful while carrying the water from the spring. There are many accidents of falls that have been reported," said Adelaide.

"I usually fetch water before going to school. I really do not like going to fetch water because accessing the spring is difficult. Sometimes when it rains the previous night, it makes the access to the spring so slippery. Sometimes you might slip and fall with the fetched water. The times I have fallen with water, I [have been] late going to school. At school, the teacher on duty will always say it is a lame excuse, and for that, you're being punished," shared 11-year-old Baron M., above collecting water from the spring.

Protecting the spring will enable the community members in Khainga to safely and efficiently collect water that they know they can trust. Then people like Sarah and Baron can focus on the other important things in their lives that matter to them instead of worrying about the water they consume stealing their resources or impeding their progress.

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


October, 2024: Khainga Community Spring Protection Complete!

Your contribution has made access to clean water for the Khainga 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 water has solved the issues of waterborne diseases because we are now accessing clean and safe water, and also it has solved the problem of time wastage," said 65-year-old Sarah Muruka.

Sarah collecting water at the spring.

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

Baron (left) at the spring with a friend.

"Reliable water will impact my learning at school because I will have enough time to study and focus in class, thus achieving my grades," said Baron, 13.

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 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 spring 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 spring box and setting the tiles under the spout to prevent erosion.

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 protection.

We officially gave ownership of the waterpoint to the Khainga 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, Joyce, Mercy W, Joy, and Elivene deployed to the site to lead the event. 31 people attended the training, including 21 women and 9 men.

Learning how to properly care for the waterpoint.

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 about proper handwashing.

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.

Learning how to make soap.

Participants found the topic of soap-making especially interesting. After learning about the components needed and the process of making soap, they were excited to consider using their new skills as an income-generating activity in the future.

Aggrey collecting water at the spring.

"This training has really impacted my community on [how] they are supposed to maintain hygiene. To my children, who are pupils and students, it really impacted them positively because they are now able to take caution before fetching water, which will really lead to [the] reduction of waterborne diseases," said 43-year-old farmer Aggrey Muruka.

Thank you for making all of this possible!




September, 2024: Khainga Community Spring Protection Underway!

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

Thanks to your recent generosity, things will soon improve here. We are working to install a reliable water point and improve hygiene standards. We look forward to sharing inspiring news soon! 

 




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

Project Sponsor - Beta Squad