The 210 residents of the Musangaro Community struggle to access safe, sufficient water daily. Their only water source is a damaged spring with long lines and contaminated water.
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A queue at the spring.
Field Officer Mercy Wamalwa described the current water source. "The water point is extremely dirty with a damaged drawing point and eroded backfilled area, which makes the area around the water point swampy. This water flows with rust, and it has a foul smell with a taste of metal. Another negative consequence of using this water source is that sometimes they experience insecurity at the water source, which makes them afraid of fetching water during late hours."
"The health impact to this community's members that they have reported is that they normally experience the issue of waterborne diseases like typhoid, which its treatment is really costly to them," she continued.
32-year-old farmer Christine Nafula feels those struggles acutely.
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Christine in the spring.
"My family and I were really sick and we had diarrhea till we were all weak. It's just our neighbors who came to our aid. This has been on a regular basis because we are unable to access safe and clean water."
She continued, "The sickness has really dragged my small business behind because [of] the small amount earned from selling my vegetables I end up spending on my treatment."
But waterborne illnesses aren't the only things that keep Christine from being able to live her life. Due to the state of their spring, she and the rest of her community wait in long lines, wasting time waiting to collect water.
"The longest time I waited was almost two hours, and this was because of the low discharge rate of this spring," Christine shared. She went on to tell us that she and her children take up to ten trips a day to collect water.
"Water is life in that, without water, our activities cannot run on swiftly. Not only water, but clean and safe water is more essential to our life. Many things depend on water for survival, thus making it more important to our daily routine," she said. Christine knows how crucial water is, but with the spring in its current state, water is taking much more from her life than it's giving.
Protecting the Musangaro Community's spring will give Christine a chance to live her life and make progress toward her goals. She hopes to spend more time on her farm and increase its output, a dream that is only possible with access to clean, safe 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.