In the Indoli Community, 450 residents struggle to thrive because they have experienced a water crisis for the last six years. Their naturally flowing spring is in disrepair, is open to contamination and risks their health every time they consume it.
Gladys Oduori, 56, is a small-scale farmer working tirelessly to support her family, which includes two children and four grandchildren. She used to sell fish at the market, but because of her community's water crisis, she's now struggling to get by with just farming.
She tells the story of how and why her business in the market was cut short due to water.
"I woke up one morning with symptoms such as stomachache, dry or sore throat, and joint pains. I was able to go to a nearby health center for treatment, and after being tested, I was diagnosed with typhoid; that is when I realized this is not safe [water] for drinking without treating it. I also have two children and four school-going grandchildren who contracted typhoid and amoebic dysentery."
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/the-water-project/image/upload/c_fill,dpr_auto,q_auto,f_auto,w_auto/WP-Uploads/community/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Kenya420056-420056-Gladys-O-10448.jpg)
Gladys Oduori.
"Before I was diagnosed with typhoid, I had a business of selling fish in the marketplace, which stopped immediately after getting ill, and due to using all of my capital and profits to buy myself and some of my grandchildren medication. I have had economic hardship, and I have not been able to continue or recuperate it, which has now forced me to be a small-scale farmer to sustain myself and my family," she continued.
"I have been pulled down in my business because I don't have any sustainable capital to continue my fish sales. Therefore, I have not been able to afford some basic things and pay some of my grandchildren's fees because they only depend on me to go to school, and [I] have been forced to embark on farming," Gladys added.
Water-related illnesses aren't the only detriments of the Indoli Community Spring. Because the spring walls are in such a state, water seeps through constantly. This causes the flow from the discharge pipe to slow, making people wait in long lines to fetch water. Gladys knows the frustration well. She takes up to 12 trips a day to collect water to meet her household's needs, and all the time spent collecting water is time not spent farming. Her family suffers, and no matter how hard she works, it's challenging to meet her family's needs.
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Community members waiting for their chance to collect water.
Protecting the spring will give Gladys and the rest of her community the tools needed to thrive. She will have enough water to meet her daily needs and hopefully rebuild her market business. She has the knowledge and motivation to provide for her family; now, she only needs clean and safe water access!
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.