Rehabilitation Project
140 residents of the Markiti Community struggle to access sufficient, clean water every day. The spring they currently use is dangerous to access, and the water often makes them ill.
Community members waiting to collect water on the slippery steps.
Field Officer Adelaide Nasimiyu set the scene for us. She said, "This water point's terrain is bad. Accessing the water point is a big challenge, especially for children and pregnant women. The way is too slippery towards the water point, especially during the rainy season. The location of the water has made it difficult for the water users to fetch water comfortably. They have improvised the discharge pipe where they use a piece of iron sheet. This has made their drawing of water to be difficult. Most of the community members who depend on this water source for drinking water have complained of stomachache issues, most have been ill of typhoid, and children suffer from diarrhea."
8 year-old Brighton bears the burden of the water crisis in his community on a daily basis.
"I remember it was the beginning of the year, when I was seriously sick after drinking water that was not treated. It was fetched directly from the spring. This sickness made me to be very weak. I couldn't walk on my own. I had very bad diarrhea. I remember spending most of [my] time on the latrine. This made [me] emaciated."
Brighton collecting water.
What Brighton experienced is sadly very common. It's also dangerous. According to the World Health Organization, "Diarrhoea is a leading cause of malnutrition in children under five years old."
However, water-related illnesses aren't the only pitfall of their spring. Its output is subpar because the eye of the spring hasn't been properly captured. Because of this, community members have to wait in long lines to collect water, delaying their daily essential tasks and creating opportunities for unrest within the community.
"When the queue is long, and the mothers are in [a] hurry to do other chores at home, they will literally push your containers behind, claiming that you are young and you can wait since you don't have much to do at home," Brighton shared.
Brighton waiting to collect water.
"I remember one time I was late for school, and I requested some girls to allow me [to] fetch water so that I could rush to school. They started laughing and mocking me, [saying] that I am a lazy boy who loves sleeping. They refused me to fetch water. That day, I was punished for arriving at school late," he continued.
Without accessible, safe water, children like Brighton will continue to get sick, sacrificing their educations and childhoods. They will waste time waiting to collect the water that is making them sick. They will stay stuck in this difficult cycle until their spring is protected.
"The water from this source is not clean and they have suffered health-wise for consuming contaminated water. Most of their time, they have spent looking for clean water. This has led to [a] waste of their time. If they can access clean water, this community will live a healthy life, engaging themselves in productive activities," said Adelaide.
Brighton's dreams of the future, aren't what you might expect for an eight-year-old.
He shared, "In the future when I grow up, I want to be rich with a lot of money which I can use to help my people to access clean and safe water. If my people access clean water, they will live a healthy life with no diseases. I will help them have water in their houses, so that they will not go to the spring to fetch water."
Steps Toward a Solution
Our technical experts worked with the local community to identify the most effective solution to their water crisis. They decided to safeguard the existing flowing spring.
Spring Protection
Springs are natural water sources that originate from deep underground. As water travels through various layers of the earth, it undergoes a natural filtration process, making it cleaner and safer to drink. To protect these spring sources from contamination, we construct a waterproof cement structure around layers of clay, stone, and soil. This design channels the spring water through a discharge pipe, facilitating easier, faster, and cleaner water collection.
Chlorine Dispenser
As an extra measure towards water quality safety, uniquely engineered chlorine dispensers are installed at all of our spring protection projects so community members can treat their water with pre-measured doses of chlorine. The chlorine treats any residual contamination and stays active for two to three days, ensuring water stays safe to use even when stored at home. Chlorine delivery and maintenance of the dispensers are part of our ongoing community support.
Community Education & Ownership
Hygiene and sanitation training are integral to our water projects. Training is tailored to each community's specific needs and includes key topics such as proper water handling, improved hygiene practices, disease transmission prevention, and care of the new water point. Safe water and improved hygiene habits foster a healthier future for everyone in the community. Encouraged and supported by the guidance of our team, a water user committee representative of the community's diverse members assumes responsibility for maintaining the water point, often gathering fees to ensure its upkeep.
