Indoli Community 2

Project Status

Project Type: Protected Spring

Regional Program: Western Kenya WaSH Program

Impact: 450 Served

Project Phase: In Service - Jun 2026

Functionality Status: Functional

Project Features

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In the Indoli Community, 450 residents struggle to thrive because they have experienced a water crisis for the last six years. Their naturally flowing water source, Ashiali Spring, is in disrepair, is open to contamination, and risks their health every time they consume it.

Gladys Oduori, 56, is a 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," shared Gladys.

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 [from] 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.

Community members wait 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.

Project Updates

June, 2026: Indoli Community Spring Protection Complete!

Your contribution has made access to clean water for the Indoli Community possible!

We transformed their spring into a flowing source of naturally filtered water. A chlorine dispenser is 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!

"Now that we have clean and reliable water, we will not waste time at the waterpoint anymore, and my children and grandchildren will be healthy. My children will be able to go to work for them to earn a living and my grandchildren will also be able to go to school early and with school fees. We really appreciate this water," said Gladys Oduori.

Gladys Oduori.

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

15-year-old Rashid said, "I have not been able to go back to school and learn because my parents had no money. This water will really help my family, and I farm, and also earn some money so that I can go back to school."

Rashid.

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.

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 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.

Laying the foundation.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 received permission from their local field officers to fetch water.

We officially transferred ownership of the waterpoint to the Indoli community.

Happiness and thanksgiving flowed in all directions!

Training on Health, Hygiene, and More

Together with the community, we determined their preferred training date. When the day arrived, facilitators Jacqueline Kangu and Joy Ongeri. deployed to the site to lead the event. 19 people attended the training, including 14 women and 5 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, which 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.

Handwashing session.

Joy Ongeri said, "The participants all were very lively, such that the trainers had an easy time teaching them. The group was so engaged in asking questions and answering some posed by the facilitators. The participants all showed their enthusiasm by sitting attentively all through the training and noting down new things and practices that they learned."

"I was able to learn about oral hygiene and a new way to treat water. I sometimes used to wonder how someone can just brush their teeth, but their breath is bad. I now know that it might be that they don't brush their tongue, or they may have stomach problems that should be checked. I also learned how to treat water with the SODIS (solar disinfection) method," Consolata Moi Lutta said.

Ms. Moi Lutta participates in the dental hygiene training.

Thank you for making all of this possible!

May, 2026: Exciting Progress in Indoli Community!

We’re thrilled to share that, thanks to your generous support, significant change is coming for Gladys Oduori and the entire Indoli 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 Indoli Community!

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!

Indoli Community 2

Project Status

Community Profile