Rehabilitation Project
The 275 people living in Bubanda Community do not have a nearby water source to meet their daily needs. They regularly walk over an hour to collect water from a well in a nearby community, not only is it far away, it is overcrowded, and worst of all, the water it produces is salty.
People are exhausted from collecting water several times a day to meet their daily needs, but to reach the water source; they must also traverse through other people's gardens, which inevitably leads to tension among community members.
Fifteen-year-old Bridget is familiar with the long, tiring trip. She is also intimately aware of the risks.
"I feel frustrated due to the long distance and the queue, especially during the evening hours. The long-distance makes fetching water time-consuming, and sometimes the lengthy queue at the waterpoint causes delays. I am constantly concerned about safety because the access road to the waterpoint is overgrown, and as a girl, I fear the possibility of harassment by men," said Bridget.
Bridget in front of the faraway well.
Bridget feels frustrated that after she has made the tiring trip, she finally arrives at the waterpoint. Because of her age, she is often pushed to the back of the line. All of the time consumed with collecting water delays her completing her daily tasks and often keeps her out of school, stealing from her future.
"I don't have enough time to read my books. I spend a significant amount of time collecting water," Bridget shared.
People wait a turn to collect water at the faraway well.
A nearby, safe water source for the Bubanda Community will allow Bridget and others to efficiently collect the water they need for the day. Having her needs met means she can begin to dream of what her future might hold.
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.
