Project Status



Project Type:  Protected Spring

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 350 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Feb 2025

Functionality Status:  Functional

Project Features


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Community Profile

Report Submitted by
Elvine Atsieno, IT Assistant

The 350 people of Khabalwe Community struggle to access sufficient water. They have a community spring, but although it looks like it functions appropriately, several issues with its current state put community members at risk.

"This spring was done by [the] local community members who gathered materials [for] this spring, but it was not done according to construction standards because [the] materials were not enough. This water source is broken, some [of the spring] eyes were not captured, and when it rains, runoff contaminates [the] water," reported field officer Elvine Atsieno.

Although community members made their best effort, the improper construction leaves the water vulnerable to contamination since it is not filtered correctly.

Elvine continued describing the spring's poor condition: "Water [is] escaping through the wing wall [and] flows through the staircase, making it slippery. This water point is dangerous to users. People have fallen down while putting containers on their heads. Both [the] young and [the] adults have been injured several times while fetching water."

"As you can see, this spring is not in good condition. It takes much time to access water [here]. I take much time reaching this place so that I can fetch water, [and] sometimes I go to school very late. Today, I reported [to] school 15 minutes late, and examinations were ongoing. It's my prayer that this water point is repaired so that I can take [only] a few minutes [to] collect water from this place," said 11-year-old Douglas W., seen above.

However, the challenges of safely and efficiently collecting water are not the only issues confronting community members who use the spring.

"People in this community are facing health problems. There are a number of [cases of] cholera reported in this community. Both adults and children have been seeking medical attention in different health facilities," shared Elvine.

"I [went] to Kakamega General Hospital several [times] to seek medical attention due to [a] cholera attack a few weeks ago. I was down, and doctors diagnosed that it was cholera. I don't have a medical cover (insurance), and anytime I fall sick, I use a lot of money in the hospital," said 75-year-old Salma Washiali, seen above collecting water even though she knows it may make her sick.

The proper protection of the spring will enable people to safely collect all the water they need so they can focus on other essential things in their daily lives. Hopefully, Douglas will have the time and energy required to attend school and improve his grades. And Salma can collect the water she needs and trust it will not make her ill with water-related illnesses that steal her resources and health.

"If this spring can be redone, then all the people will have a reason to smile while enjoying clean water. They no longer [will] visit [the] hospital due to waterborne diseases, and also, no injuries will be reported. An intervention in this community will help much. The money they are using for medication will be channeled to other useful things like paying school fees [and] buying fertilizer and seeds," concluded Elvine.

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


February, 2025: Khabalwe Community Spring Protection Complete!

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

62-year-old Salome Washiali feels hopeful about her future. "Access to water will help me live healthy and be able to carry out my farm activities and expand my farming as well. For example, I wish to do livestock keeping, which is usually quite involved, and therefore, in my good health, I will be able to give it my best and get the best out of it."

Ms. Washiali.

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

Douglas, 10, shared, "I will comfortably go for water without fearing snakes and the sharp stones that used to hurt my feet. I will not be absent from school due to sickness, and this will help me perform well in my studies."

Douglas.

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 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.

Drainage channel.

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.

Beginning brickwork.

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.

Setting the discharge pipes.

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.

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 erosion.

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.

Fitting the tiles beneath the collection point.

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.

Clean water is flowing!

We officially gave ownership of the waterpoint to the Khabalwe 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, Joy, Elvine, Edmond, and Jacquey deployed to the site to lead the event. 22 people attended the training, including 16 women and 6 men.

Soapmaking training.

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.

"The participants were committed and shared ideas and contributed to the new knowledge. They all promised to unlearn their old ways of doing things and adopt the new way they had learned," shared Field Officer Jaqueline Kangu.

Ms. Nakhauka.

Margaret Nakhauka, a local farmer who participated in the session, said, "The training was rich and answered all my questions concerning my well-being. Due to this new knowledge, I am optimistic about good health, [a] long life, and improved standards of living."

Thank you for making all of this possible!




January, 2025: Exciting Progress in Khabalwe Community!

We’re thrilled to share that, thanks to your generous support, significant change is coming for Douglas and the entire Khabalwe Community. Construction has begun on the spring protection project, bringing them one step closer to having clean, reliable water.

But that's not all—during construction, we’re also providing vital health training. These sessions equip the community with essential hygiene practices, ensuring that the benefits of clean water extend to lasting health improvements.

We’re so grateful for your role in making this possible. Stay tuned for more updates—soon, we’ll be celebrating the arrival of safe water in the Khabalwe Community!




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

4 individual donor(s)