Rehabilitation Project
This project is part of Bridge Water Project's program in Western Kenya. What follows is direct from them:
BACKGROUND
The proposed St. Caroli Lwanga Lutaso Primary school is a mixed day primary school started in 1952 by concerned efforts of the Namirama Catholic Church of Kakamega Diocese, in the year 2011 the school management committee and parents contributed towards the school water point and managed to dig a shallow well with an aim of providing safe and quality water in school to improve sanitation and hygiene status. The shallow well records a total depth of 20 M with its static water level being 9M. The well was developed using developed locally burnt bricks from bottom to the surface of the well, 4” slap was covered on allowing an opening space measuring 18” by 18”. However, the school management ran short of funds and as a result they were not able to equip the well with a hand pump. Through interaction with other schools within Kakamega, they learned of BWP development activities related to improving water points to learning institutions within the county. Therefore, they made application requesting BWP to consider improving their water point by installing a hand pump so as to enable pupils fetch water without struggling.
CURRENT WATER SOURCE
Currently the Lutaso Primary school fetch water from the same well whereby pupils use 10 litre jerican tied on the rope, which sometimes when the rope gets weak, it cuts off hence dropping the jerican in the well. At times the school has to get somebody to go inside the well to recover the dropped jerican and rope pieces, this problem occurs often hence contaminating the water. The water from this well records a turbidity value of 50 ways below World Health Organization parameters of value 5. During the rainy season, the turbidity of the well is very high because of the runoffs which contributes to water borne diseases among the pupils and even the surrounding Lutaso community such as diarrhea, amoeba and typhoid etc, according to the nearby Lutaso Health Centre.
POPULATION
St. Caroli Lange Lutaso Primary has population of 1200 pupils, (500 boys and 700 girls) 20 teachers (6 male and 14 female). The school has an Early Childhood Development ECD that has 150 kids (90 girls and 60 boys) with 3 female teachers, a total population of 1373 people. (Editor's Note: While this many people may have access on any given day, realistically a single water source can only support a population of 350-500 people. This community would be a good candidate for a second project in the future so adequate water is available. To learn more, click here.)
HYGIENE & SANITATION
The school has permanent classrooms and administration block, which are washed once per week. There is also a kitchen where the ten o’clock tea and lunch for pupils and teachers is prepared from, inside the kitchen; there are water storage containers, which are covered. The school has 9 pit latrines (3 for boys, 4 for girls and 2 for teachers); the latrines are not enough according to the population of 1373 people. The entire school has no hand washing stations but has a compost pit where litter is dumped.
ASSESSING THE NEED
There is need to rehabilitate St. Caroli Lwanga Primary School well by installing an Afridev pump to enable the pupils and the entire community has access to quality water for their domestic use. Also to improve the hygiene and sanitation status, since the current system of drawing water using a jerrican is unhealthy and dangerous practice for the pupils.
PROJECT BENEFICIARIES
If the well is rehabilitated, the pupils, teachers of St. Caroli Lwanga Primary School and the entire community of Lutaso will be the beneficiaries.
WATER COMMITTEE
The school management committee is available and ready to take the responsibilities of the well’s operations and maintenance to ensure sustainability. Before the implantation of the proposed rehabilitation water project, BWP staff will train the committee on maintenance, water supply management and on sanitation and hygiene.
