Rehabilitation Project
The 300 community members of Rwempisi struggle to find and collect sufficient, clean water to meet their daily needs. Hours of people's time is stolen walking to and from their primary water source, a dysfunctional spring. The task leaves residents like Cosmas Buniko, a 29-year-old farmer, exhausted without the energy or time to farm, which is how he provides for his family. This region relies on agriculture for survival, so water is needed not only for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene but also, as importantly, to grow food and produce income.
Cosmas.
The headwall of the spring was destroyed when a tree fell on it, yet without another alternative water source, the people in Rwempisi have made due by inserting an improvised collection pipe into the bank. Collecting water is a slow and tedious process.
Not only is it time-consuming to collect water here, but drinking it can have dangerous consequences. When the spring construction was compromised, so was the water quality. Consuming it causes people to regularly suffer from waterborne illnesses that steal their health, energy, and financial resources.
"I am very concerned because the water is very dirty and when it rains, even the spring box gets filled with water [and] floods. I fell sick with typhoid and only discovered the diagnosis after visiting the hospital. The doctor indicated that the illness might have been caused by the consumption of contaminated water," shared Cosmas.
"When I contracted typhoid, I was unable to engage in other tasks due to its severity. Lacking energy, I remained at home until I recovered, impacting my daily routine. It poses significant dangers and financial burdens because each time I fall ill, it results in substantial expenses," continued Cosmas.
Cosmas desires to provide water for his family, yet the current water situation limits his ability to maintain his health, making it nearly impossible. He and his community need a reliable, safe water source to quickly obtain water so they can focus on improving their daily lives.
"The installation of the new waterpoint will alleviate waterborne diseases for both me and my family members. Additionally, it will ensure the safety of using clean water for cooking, thereby enhancing [our] overall health, particularly for my wife," Cosmas concluded.
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 drill a borehole well, construct a platform for the well, and attach a hand pump.
Well
Abundant water often lies just beneath our feet. Aquifers—natural underground rivers—flow through layers of sediment and rock, offering a constant supply of safe water. A borehole well is drilled deep into the earth to access this naturally filtered and protected water. We penetrate meters, sometimes even hundreds of meters, of soil, silt, rock, and more to reach the water underground. Once found, we construct a platform for the well and attach a hand pump. The community gains a safe, enclosed water source capable of providing approximately five gallons of water per minute. Learn more here!
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.
A Community-Wide Approach
In Uganda, we use a Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach, which involves several meetings where community members evaluate their own hygiene and sanitation practices to encourage lasting change. During these sessions, natural leaders emerge, motivating the community to recognize and change unhealthy behaviors that affect everyone.
Communities then commit to ending open defecation before we install the water project. Every household builds and uses a latrine to prevent disease and improve hygiene and sanitation alongside their new water source. To support this effort, a Community Development Officer (CDO) is assigned. The CDO encourages each household to set up handwashing stations, animal pens, garbage pits, and dish-drying racks. These additions are crucial in preventing the spread of common diseases.
