October, 2018: A Year Later: Rosint Community, 16 Gilbert Street

A year ago, your generous donation enabled us to restore water to Rosint Community in Sierra Leone. The contributions of incredible monthly donors and others giving directly to The Water Promise allow our local teams to visit project sites throughout the year, strengthening relationships with communities and evaluating the water project over time. These consistent visits allow us to learn vital lessons and hear amazing stories. Read more...

August, 2018: Rosint Community, 16 Gilbert Street Project Complete

Rosint Community, Sierra Leone now has a well that provides clean water throughout the year, thanks to your donation! Hundreds of people are no longer need to drink dirty water during the dry months. Hygiene and sanitation training was also conducted, which focused on healthy practices such as washing hands and using latrines. This water and new knowledge give the community a great foothold in eliminating water and sanitation-related illness.

We have made improvements to our system to ensure that you always hear about your project as soon as possible, for a lot has happened since construction was completed in February. Our team has been back to monitor this well, with our last visit being in July:

Things are working wonderfully!

Project Result: New Knowledge

Mrs. Gilbert let us hold hygiene and sanitation training at her household. She is a woman who is passionate about taking care of herself and her family, and she already has many of the facilities we're teaching about. Each of the three days of training, we moved to a different location around her compound to talk about those facilities. She was also integral in recruiting the participants who came each day.

The first day, our facilitator had fun introducing hand-washing by going around shaking hands with others in the group. She had secretly put glitter on her hands, and had fun talking about how the transferral of glitter from hand to hand is just like germs! She then taught participants how to wash hands and when. Participants brought empty containers with which we showed them how to build hand-washing stations. We provided the other materials, as well as soap to get them started.

Diagrams portraying unhealthy practices such as walking barefoot, open defecation, outdoor urination, and eating with unwashed hands were all shown and discussed in groups. What behaviors make a community healthy, and what others are counterproductive?

The final day, we continued these types of discussions. While on the first day we had led people through hand-washing station construction, this third day was similar in that we elaborated on the need for and the viability of building other sanitation facilities like latrines, dish racks, and animal pens. We taught participants what materials to use, proving that even the poorest family can afford to build at least a traditional pit latrine. This final day is especially important because of our training on pump management and maintenance.

Mrs. Gilbert told us, "This part of the country is not hygienic. People here are so busy doing their business of processing oysters. The odor from some people can be very offensive! But the hygiene training filled in some major gaps. Really this hygiene training has proved as a stepping stone for many people living in this community. It has helped to reduce the filthiness that has been so prevalent." She admitted though she's always loved good hygiene and sanitation, she even learned some new things for herself. She continued, "In addition, even myself, I learnt something about hand-washing. Before I did not know that there are methods in hand-washing. But during your training, I learned the various methods. I realized that I have not been doing it properly. I am so happy that your training has served as a reminder for me and also the people I am staying with."

Mrs. Gilbert

Project Result: A Reliable Water Well

We spearheaded a new method of converting the bottom of a hand-dug well into a borehole. When we started this process, the well was at 52 feet deep with three feet of water. At this time of the year, community members were only able to draw one or two containers of water before the well needed rest. In a few more weeks, the well would have been completely dry.

The team set up the tripod and pulley over the well. Depending on the diameter of the well, the team either drills from inside the well or from ground level. The team worked from ground level here in Rosint, and started by removing the pump and hatch.

First, they installed 6″ PVC casing through the hatch cover down to the bottom of the well. This ensured that the drilling began straight and also kept the hole from collapsing. They connected the bucket auger drill bit to the drilling rod and lowered it into the well, continuing to add more drill rods until they hit the bottom. Each drill rod is 18 feet in length and every time the team empties the bucket auger, they must reverse the process by disconnecting the rods until the drill bit can be emptied. This method is more labor intensive, but working from the top was much safer in this circumstance. There are different drill bits for different conditions, a special bit just for clay, one for sand, one for rocks and one combination bit for all three conditions.

Rotating this drill by hand is hard work!

As they drilled, the team met sand mixed with clay. At 10 feet, it turned to mostly clay, and at 68 feet deep it turned to a dark grey clay. This dark clay persisted, so the team decided that 72 feet was a wise place to stop drilling.

10 feet of casing was slotted for screen and lowered down between 55 and 65 feet. Seven buckets of filter pack were poured between the two casings, and then they could hoist out the temporary larger casing used for the drilling.

Scooping the filter pack to pour between the casings.

Iron rods were cemented into the well lining and attached to the casing to support the weight of the PVC and keep it straight from bottom to top. The team welded a collar in the pump base to further support the casing.

The well was developed by bailing; two men bailed by hand for four days to ensure proper development. The well could then be tested by installing a submersible pump at 60 feet and using it for one hour. The team measured the discharge, which was 650 gallons. We are excited that the static water level at 49 feet deep remained the same throughout the entire test. Thus, the yield is 40 liters per minute.

Scooping the filter pack to pour between the casings.

With this great success, we could build a new well pad and install the new stainless steel India MkII hand-pump. Community members gathered at the well to celebrate the return of clean water, and some village elders even joined. A man named Mr. Conteh was so moved by the occasion that he asked to read the water user constitution out loud to remind everyone how to best care for their well.

Mrs. Gloria Fakondoh

Mrs. Gloria Fakondoh is a middle-aged woman who has suffered for a good portion of her life because of water scarcity. She stepped forward to share what this new clean water source means to her. "The rehabilitation of this well has helped many to live without fear of having to go far away in search of pure water. It was very difficult to access clean drinking water in this community. The only one considered safe was far across the main road, which is most times dangerous for our children because of the many vehicles. We thought God had abandoned us, but he sent you to rescue us from this water crisis," she said.

January, 2018: Rosint Community Project Underway

Rosint Community will soon have a source of safe and clean water that works year round, thanks to your generous donation. A well that is dry for months at a time is being deepened, and a new pump installed. The community will also receive training in sanitation and hygiene. Imagine the difference these resources will make for this community!

We posted an initial report from our partner in the field including an introduction to the community, maps, and pictures. We’ll keep you updated as the work progresses.

Thank You for caring for the thirsty!