Project Status



Project Type:  Protected Spring

Regional Program: Western Uganda WaSH Program

Impact: 350 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Mar 2018

Functionality Status:  Water Flowing - Needs Attention

Last Checkup: 03/11/2024

Project Features


Click icons to learn about each feature.



Community Profile

Most community members living in Katugo wake up in the cool of morning at 6am to work on their gardens or small farms. This area is known for their high production of bananas, which they sell to the neighboring markets to earn a living.

After farming all morning, most of the men go to the trading center to carry out business - some are shop attendants while others are mechanics. In the meantime, women do a lot of different types of handiwork like weaving mats and baskets which they also send to the market.

In the evenings, most men meet at the trading center to socialize.

However high the food production here, parents still fail to send their children to school, saying that there is no money for school fees. This community also has a poor road network which makes getting there difficult.

Water

People living in Katugo rely on an old, broken down spring protection system to meet all of their needs. A majority of the cement has cracked and collapsed, while the ground behind the catchment area has exposed the water to contamination. The staff made their assessment of the old spring and concluded that is was beyond repair; a complete reconstruction is needed here.

With the ground around the spring compromised, the water that people collect from the discharge pipe is no longer clean; it contains dirt, farming chemicals, and feces that are washed downhill during rains. The water smells, and people who drink it complain of constant diarrhea.

Mr. Opua Simon is a 46-year-old farmer who relies on this spring. He said, "The old spring has unsafe water, so members suffer from skin diseases when they bathe in the water. The children are the most affected by this water." The younger ones are less likely to outlast bad cases of diarrhea caused by typhoid and other illnesses.

Sanitation

Less than half of the families who rely on this water source have a pit latrine. The few we observed have walls for privacy, but either lack roofs or doors. This allows rain to flood the pit, not to mention the flies that are attracted to the waste - which then spread contamination throughout the village.

Here’s what we’re going to do about it:

Training

Training’s main objectives are the use of latrines and observing proper hygiene practices, since these goals are inherently connected to the provision of clean water. Open defecation, water storage in unclean containers and the absence of hand-washing are all possible contaminants of a household water supply. Each participating village must achieve Open Defecation Free status (defined by one latrine per household), prior to the project installation.

This social program includes the assignment of one Community Development Officer (CDO) to each village. The CDO encourages each household to build an ideal homestead that includes: a latrine, hand-washing facility, a separate structure for animals, rubbish pit and drying rack for dishes.

We also implement the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach with each of our village partners. This aims to improve the sanitation and hygiene practices and behaviors of a village. During these sessions, village leaders naturally emerge and push the community to realize that current practices of individual households – particularly the practice of open defecation– are not only unhealthy, but affect the entire village. CLTS facilitates a process in which community members realize the negative consequences of their current water, sanitation and hygiene behaviors and are inspired to take action. Group interactions are frequent motivators for individual households to: build latrines, use the latrines and demand that other households do the same.

Spring Protection

Considering the convenience, reliability, and long history of this spring, the community has decided to unite with us to build a new spring protection system for their current source. Once construction is completed, the spring will begin yielding clean drinking water.

There’s a lot of work to be done: Community members will have to help our team clear the land around the spring, diverge the water, build a catchment area with walls allowing for discharge pipes and steps in and out, and dig drainage. Local families will host our spring protection artisans while they begin the sanitation improvements needed for a successful partnership. We all look forward to making these improvements together!


This project is a part of our shared program with The Water Trust. Our team is pleased to provide the reports for this project (formatted and edited for readability) thanks to the hard work of our friends in Uganda.

Project Updates


December, 2018: A Year Later: Katugo I-Alu Community

A year ago, your generous donation enabled us to protect a spring for Katugo I-Alu Community in Uganda. 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: Katugo I-Alu Community Project Complete

Katugo I-Alu Community in Uganda has a new source of safe, clean water thanks to your donation. A spring has been protected from contamination, and now clean water is flowing. Community members have also received training in sanitation and hygiene, and plan to share what they learned with their families and neighbors.

We apologize for the delay in receiving this wonderful news from us. We have made improvements to our system to ensure that you always hear about your project as soon as possible!

New Knowledge

We trained the newly-formed water sanitation committee (WSC) at Samuel Chandia's home for three full days.

The entire committee was trained, 10 total members including a chairman, village health trainers, local council chairs, and an opinion leader. Everyone was respectful and fully participated in each activity.

Training taught committee members about their different roles. There is a WSC chairman, vice chairman, secretary, treasurer, two caretakers, and a mobilizer.

Since many people in rural areas are illiterate, our training facilitator used simple language and many pictures. Participants also formed small groups to discuss the pictures and what practices they illustrated.

Training raised awareness on keeping water clean, routes of contamination, hand-washing, hygiene practices, and gender. Lessons also equipped the WSC with the right knowledge to do their job well, including managing finances and keeping records. They are now able to be effective ambassadors of good hygiene, sanitation, and health in their neighborhoods. They even have a community plan to carry out everything they learned.

Mr. David Birungi said, "This training has been timely, and will help us maintain our water source well. We are going to ensure that we put in action what we have learned about water and hygiene."

Spring Protection

The community was so helpful once our artisans arrived; they provided food, rooms to stay in, and volunteered their time to work alongside them. Community members gathered small stones that the artisans could use along the sides of the catchment area. With their efforts, clean water was flowing from the spring in no time.

The area is first cleared and leveled out, and we excavate back from the spring eye. Ballast is then mixed with cement and sand to make concrete. A wire mesh is lain on the excavated space before the concrete is added in order to create a strong foundation. This foundation is left to cure overnight.

Next, the walls are raised with brick. The artisan then installs a pipe low in the collection wall to direct water from the reservoir to a concrete or plastic spring box. He then backfills the spring source with hardcore until water is flowing from the discharge pipe. The area around the spring is then landscaped, fenced, and drainage is dug.

We were privileged to be there as some community members came down the path to fetch their first containers of clean water. Mr. Simon Opua said, "We have been sharing water with animals. Thanks... for accepting to support my community with the water spring, which will help reduce diseases like diarrhea, which has been affecting children a lot."




October, 2017: Katugo I Community Project Underway

Katugo I Community in Uganda will soon have a source of clean water, thanks to your generous donation. A spring is being protected, and the community will attend sessions on sanitation and hygiene practices. Together, these resources will go a long way toward stopping the spread of disease in the area. We just posted a report including information about the community, project details, and pictures. We’ll keep you informed as the work continues!




Project Videos




Project Photos


Project Type

Springs are water sources that come from deep underground, where the water is filtered through natural layers until it is clean enough to drink. Once the water pushes through the surface of the Earth, however, outside elements like waste and runoff can contaminate the water quickly. We protect spring sources from contamination with a simple waterproof cement structure surrounding layers of clay, stone, and soil. This construction channels the spring’s water through a discharge pipe, making water collection easier, faster, and cleaner. Each spring protection also includes a chlorine dispenser at the waterpoint so community members can be assured that the water they are drinking is entirely safe. Learn more here!


A Year Later: Katugo I-Alu Community

December, 2018

Alice Paska and her sister no longer travel long distances to drink dirty water. Now they have a reliable, safe water source near their home.

Keeping The Water Promise

There's an incredible community of monthly donors who have come alongside you in supporting clean water in Katugo Community 2.

This giving community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Katugo Community 2 maintain access to safe, reliable water. Together, they keep The Water Promise.

We’re confident you'll love joining this world-changing group committed to sustainability!

A year ago, your generous donation enabled us to protect a spring for Katugo I-Alu Community in Uganda. 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 – and we’re excited to share this one from local team member Steven Kwikiriza with you.


The community members of Katugo I-Alu no longer suffer from waterborne diseases like diarrhea and dysentery. Now, they have clean water that keeps them healthy.

This means that students attend school with no diseases disturbing them, said David Acidri. Ever since the community improved on their hygiene and sanitation practices, fewer people in the community fall sick as well, he added.

Our field officer found that community members have adapted to improved hygiene and sanitation practices that they learned from the various trainings over the past year.

"We now wash our hands with soap and have constructed latrines so that our children do not fall sick," said David.

Protection of the spring is only one step along the journey toward sustainable access to clean water. The Water Project is committed to consistent monitoring of each water source. Our monitoring and evaluation program, made possible by donors like you, allows us to maintain our relationships with communities by visiting up to 4 times each year to ensure that the water points are safe and reliable.

This is just one of the many ways that we monitor projects and communicate with you. Additionally, you can always check the functionality status and our project map to see how all of our water points are performing, based on our consistent monitoring data.

One project is just a drop in the bucket towards ending the global water crisis, but the ripple effects of this project are truly astounding. This project in Katugo I-Alu, Uganda is changing many lives.

That includes Alice Paska. We met her at the spring and she told us that she and her sister now save a lot of time since they no longer have to walk long distances to fetch water. She also added that the water point provides clean water compared to the dirty water they used to drink before.

This is only possible because of the web of support and trust built between The Water Project, our local teams, the community, and you. We are excited to stay in touch with this community and support their journey with safe water.

Read more about The Water Promise and how you can help.


Navigating through intense dry spells, performing preventative maintenance, conducting quality repairs when needed and continuing to assist community leaders to manage water points are all normal parts of keeping projects sustainable. The Water Promise community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Katugo Community 2 maintain access to safe, reliable water.

We’d love for you to join this world-changing group committed to sustainability.

The most impactful way to continue your support of Katugo Community 2 – and hundreds of other places just like this – is by joining our community of monthly givers.

Your monthly giving will help provide clean water, every month... keeping The Water Promise.