Project Status



Project Type:  Protected Spring

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 560 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Oct 2024

Functionality Status:  Functional

Project Features


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Community Profile

Report Submitted by
Jacqueline Kangu, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

The 560 people of the Emayala Community struggle to access sufficient water. The community's primary water source is a dysfunctional, unprotected spring that faces several challenges.

"The spring was once protected by the community though without expertise; therefore, the water does not pass through the pipe. This has made the spring users go back to scooping water from the drawing point where it broke down," said field officer Jacqueline Kangu.

Looking at the spring, it is evident that although the community attempted to protect it in the past, the water no longer flows from the collection pipe. Instead, it bubbles up beneath the crumbling cement floor, creating a pool of murky, algae-filled water. Community members must teeter on the edge of the hole and submerge their containers beneath the water to scoop up water into their containers.

This tedious process causes overcrowding, wasting people's valuable time, and conflicts among the spring users, which challenges the unity in the community.

Five-year-old Samir O. can be seen below scooping water from the hole because he was accompanied by adults, but it is a task he does not normally do on his own for fear he will fall into the water.

"[I] am not able to draw water because I may fall inside the scoop hole," said young Samir.

Not surprisingly, the water people are working so hard to collect is contaminated and often makes them ill with waterborne illnesses such as diarrhea, stomachache, and typhoid.

"It makes me spend my little income on treating my family and myself due to reinfections caused by contaminated water. [I] am not able to save even a single cent, and therefore [I am] unable to take care of my basic needs and emergencies. I live a hand-to-mouth life, which really frustrates me," said 27-year-old Saida Inganga.

The proper protection of the spring will enable community members to safely and efficiently collect clean water so they have time for the vital things they need to accomplish each day, and hopefully, there will be more unity within the community. Samir and his parents will no longer have to worry about him getting hurt if he is sent to collect water, and Saida will be able to drink the water without suffering from water-related illnesses that steal her resources.

"Yusuf Ambetsa Spring serves a good number of people in this community, so its protection will enable this community to live healthy and productive lives," concluded Jacqueline.

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: Emayala Community Spring Protection Complete!

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

Celebrating clean water!

"Easy access to water will enable better planning and saving of time, which will enable me to engage in income-generating activities and enough time for revision for my children. My children will be able to access water easily, and this will give them enough time for their studies, thus improving their performance," said 48-year-old farmer and chairperson of the Water User Committee, Catherine Akungwi.

Catherine drinks water at the spring.

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

Brighton celebrating clean water.

"I will not be getting tired going far to get clean water, and this will help me save my time and energy. Access to reliable water will enable [me] to concentrate in my studies without worrying about water," said 10-year-old Brighton.

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 collect 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.

Excavation.

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.

Starting the brickwork.

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.

Plastering the walls.

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.

Backfilling the spring box.

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.

Adding the fencing.

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.

Clean water flowing!

We officially gave ownership of the waterpoint to the Emayala 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 Adelaide, Mercy, Joyce, Faith, Joy, Mercy W, and Jacquey deployed to the site to lead the event. 37 people attended the training, including 20 women and 17 men.

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.

John at the spring.

"Soapmaking was the most interesting topic because, after the training, one can put [it] in practice immediately and improve his/her income and hygiene as well," said 40-year-old John Manya.

Thank you for making all of this possible!




September, 2024: Emayala Community Spring Protection Underway!

The lack of adequate water in the Emayala 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

Allahoumma J'alni Mina Tawabin Wa J'alni Min Al Moutatahirin
3 individual donor(s)