Project Status



Project Type:  Protected Spring

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 700 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Sep 2024

Functionality Status:  Functional

Project Features


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700 hundred of the 1,050 people who call Eshikufu home live in the section of the community that depends on Chitai Spring for water. Due to previous well-intentioned but insufficient attempts at protecting the spring, water does not flow from the collection pipe as quickly as it should, and the walls and floor are crumbling. This makes it impossible for the large number of community members it serves to collect sufficient water to meet their daily needs, even after waiting in long lines.

The water quality that the spring produces also creates serious risks for those consuming it, threatening them with water-related illnesses.

"The spring is broken down; hence [it is] exposed to contamination which directly affects the users' health," shared field officer Jacqueline Kangu.

Sadly the community reports frequent typhoid, diarrhea, stomachaches, and fevers from consuming the water. Not to mention the ongoing knee and back pain from the laborious task of collecting it.

"During [the] rainy season, the water is very dirty, the terrain is bad and can break our legs, and [the] drawing point is destroyed. The standing water is a breeding point [for] tadpoles and liver flukes, which are dangerous when they bite," said 38-year-old hairdresser Marion Makokha shown below at the unprotected spring.

Six-year-old Samantha echoed Marion's concerns about harmful critters in the water, which collect in the spring box because of improper drainage.

"Sometimes the water is dirty, and when I drink, I get sick. I also fear stepping inside the standing water because dangerous animals may bite me," Samantha said (shown below).

“Children require more water (by weight) than adults, so their exposure to water-borne pathogens is much higher. Diarrhoeal diseases cause dehydration in children much faster than in adults. Children are more likely to develop severe infections and experience complications during recovery due to their small body size and their developing immune systems, which provide little natural immunity or resistance," said Unicef

For community members to have a water source that is safe to drink from and one they can rely on to provide sufficient water, their spring needs to be protected appropriately. This will entail tearing apart the old spring and reconstructing it to ensure it is done in a way that protects people's health. Stairs will also be added to ease access to the water point and hopefully reduce the physical burden on those collecting water.

The protection of the spring will enable adults like Marion and children like young Samantha to focus on collecting water quickly and safely so they can have time in their day for other essential things and maintain their health.

Note: Our proposed water point can only serve 300 people per day. We hope to continue working with this community to identify other water solutions that will ensure all of the people in this community have access to safe and reliable drinking water. 

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: Eshikufu Community Spring Protection Complete!

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

"My children and I will no longer suffer from typhoid and diarrhea, thus saving the little income that I've been spending on medication. Due to easy access [to] the water point and less risk, it will be safe for my children [to] fetch water comfortably. Access to water will enable me to save time and engage in income-generating activities, which will result in improved living standards and a stable future," shared 30-year-old farmer and newly appointed chairperson of the water user committee Marion Makokha.

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

"Reliable water will help me learn without being worried [about] how I will fetch water in a risky place. I will be able to go for water alone without fear because the water point is not bushy," said 7-year-old Samantha.

Samantha.

Preparing for Spring Protection

Community members worked together to source all locally available construction materials for the spring, including 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Eshikufu 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 Elvin, Jacquey, and Edmond deployed to the site to lead the event. 37 people attended the training, including 27 women and 10 men.

We discussed personal, oral, and environmental hygiene, emphasizing proper water handling, soapmaking, 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.

Practicing proper handwashing techniques.

"The participants were open and ready to learn and acquire new knowledge and unlearn their old ways of doing things. They all participated freely in the discussion and asked questions in order to understand every aspect. The participants laughed when one old woman, Damaris, said she wished to grow young again so that she could enjoy this kind of water point for a long time. She said that she would utilize her remaining days on earth to ensure that she lives free from diseases caused by dirty water and a dirty environment," said Field Officer Jacqueline Kangu.

Learning to make soap.

"Most participants said it has been quite difficult to maintain cleanliness since accessing water has been a long-term challenge here. Eldah, one of the participants, said it was going to be easier for them since the water point motivates them to go for water as many times as possible," concluded Jacqueline.

Learning about proper spring maintenance.

"The most interesting topic was the soapmaking process. For a long time, I have desired to know how to make soap, but I have never found someone to teach me. [I] am glad because, with soap and reliable water, we will be able to maintain hygiene in our homes," said 46-year-old Frederick Omumia, the newly elected chairperson of the water user committee.

Thank you for making all of this possible!




August, 2024: Eshikufu Community Spring Protection Underway!

The lack of adequate water in the Eshikufu 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

Project Sponsor - Berkshire Blanket