Protected Spring
Rehabilitation Project
Every day, Cynthia Baraza spends up to two hours fetching water for her family — time she doesn't have, from a source that makes her sick. She is one of 140 people in the Ebwayi Community who depend entirely on the Wangalua spring, the community's sole water source, for everything from drinking to cooking to bathing. It is neither reliable nor safe, and it is costing them their health, their time, and their peace.
The community tried to improve the spring themselves, but without the right expertise, their efforts weren't enough. So they reached out to one of our field officers, who happened to be working in a neighboring community, hoping he could help bring them a brighter future.
The spring itself is in a sorry state of disrepair. Its wing walls are crumbling, and calling the steps down into the spring "stairs" is generous — community members regularly slip and fall, sustaining injuries. Because the water is exposed to contamination, typhoid and diarrhea run rampant through the community, illnesses that are both preventable and, for families like Cynthia's, financially devastating.
New mother Cynthia Baraza is twenty-eight. She feels the consequences of using the spring water often, and it makes it harder for her to provide for her family. "I recently fell sick after drinking our water. I spent days and days at home doing nothing, and this impacted so much on my children because they are used to me helping them with their daily routines," Cynthia lamented. "I also spent so much money at the hospital that we couldn't afford a meal, and my children would come back home and only find sugarcane to chew [on] back to school," she added.
Ms. Cynthia Baraza.
Treating the illnesses that come from her only water source is costly.
"This water takes our happiness away. It starts from physical harm, health-wise, and also, it impacts negatively on my children," said Cynthia.
She continued, "Starting from not being able to do anything, the stomach aches keep me down sometimes, [so] that I cannot get up. During this time, it really becomes difficult because, as the breadwinner, there will be no income. Money spent at the hospital is also high, rendering me moneyless. Children are absent from school because of being sick or because of [unpaid] school fees."
Beyond the illness, there's the sheer cost of time. With up to two hours a day spent fetching water, and long queues at the spring itself, tempers run short. Cynthia's story reflects a community-wide problem: fights often break out at the water point — not because people are unkind, but because their situation has pushed everyone to the edge.
Community members wait for their turn to collect water.
"I recently got into a fight at the water point. I have a newborn child, and I was trying to fetch and rush back home, but the people at the water point started quarrels, asking if I was the only one with a child. It made me feel bad because they are neighbors and family. I expected them to excuse me for this period of time," said Cynthia.
If nothing is done about the Wangalua Spring, Cynthia's story won't change: "I spend more time queueing for water and not being able to finish my daily tasks as I planned. Falling sick frequently leads to [a] decrease of money coming in and more of it going out. My children sometimes see the worst of days, where they are not able to have a meal or even go to school because of a lack of money."
Cynthia and other community members haul their water home.
To restore harmony, health, and hope, the Ebwayi Community needs its spring to be protected.
"A new water point will be an indicator of freedom. I will be able to do my routines the way I used to, and I will save the money that I spend at the hospital now. My children will be safer, away from diseases, and they will be able to attend all the classes," said Cynthia.
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 possible 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 our team's guidance, the community elects a water user committee representative of its diverse members. This committee assumes responsibility for maintaining the water point, organizing community efforts, and gathering fees to ensure its upkeep.
