Rehabilitation Project
The 210 people who live in Ebulechia Community do not have a safe, reliable drinking water source. The spring they rely on is overcrowded and in poor condition. People waste valuable time standing in long lines waiting to collect water, which, when consumed, makes them feel ill.
"The water is clear, but due to the lining of the discharge pipes being eroded, there is a problem with its taste, as the water tastes rusty and a little bit bitter. The community members have reported that most of them get stomachache and diarrhea once in a while due to the rusty and metal taste in the water," shared Field Officer Joy Ongeri.
To the untrained eye, the spring looks like it is functioning well but has several issues. The community's experience of feeling ill after consuming the water indicates that the water is not being properly filtered underground. In order to collect water, community members must stand in stagnant water that should not be collected in the spring box. Without proper grading, the area around the spring is compacted, and flood waters run directly into the spring, contaminating it further.
Ruth washed her hands at the spring.
Sixty-year-old farmer Ruth Lutomia has experienced both the spring's poor conditions and delays at the waterpoint, which have disrupted her life and made it difficult for her to accomplish her daily tasks.
"As a farmer, I use a lot of time to wait in line. I don't have enough time to do my household work and farming activities. During the dry season, even people from other communities come to our waterpoint because it does not dry up. At this time, we can even stay in line by queuing or placing our containers in line for more than an hour just to fetch water," said Ruth.
"There are so many cases of the community members and children having a hard time fetching water, and I have also slipped and fallen into the stagnant water because we do not even have a staircase for us to use," said Ruth, describing the spring's poor condition.
Ruth cooks food in her home kitchen.
"We depend on water to live, and even [the] food we eat has water, and we can only survive only if we are able to have clean and safe water," exclaimed Ruth.
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.
