Project Status



Project Type:  Dug Well and Hand Pump

Program: Wells for Masindi / Jinga Uganda

Impact: 160 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Mar 2014

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 03/20/2024

Project Features


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Community Profile

The report below from our partner in the field gives some great information on the construction of a new hand-dug well in the Kisweeka-Diika community in Uganda:

Kiweeka Diika village is located in Kyankende Parish, Kiryandongo sub-county, Kiryandongo district with most of its land arable. Poverty looms here as many residents are peasant farmers with small pieces of land. Mr. Okecho Rashid 47 years old, married with five children and  the area councilor to the sub-county intimates that most of the residents are poverty stricken as they eat almost every thing they produce since the size of their land is small yet they have big families. They also have a problem of access to clean and safe water. At the moment, they draw water from open sources which is turbid and some times has a bad smell. Mr. Okecho reports that water born diseases are very common in this village due to the  dirty water residents consume.

The Water Trust in partnership with this village will construct a water source that will provide clean and safe water to this village. The village members will be required to excavate the well at a suitable location and also provide all local materials like sand and bricks. On the other part, The Water Trust will will provide all technical support, cement, transport for all materials and all hardware materials including a pump-head and pipes. The community will further provide accommodation and food to our technician who will reside at one of the community member’s home till this project is complete.

Construction Progress:

November 11, 2013

Today we delivered all materials and Richard the technician to this village where he will stay at one of the resident’s home till this project is complete. The community will provide him both food and accommodation till the well is complete. We also located a suitable location for the well with the residents and commissioned construction work.

November 13, 2013

Excavation has began and moving on smoothly. At the moment the depth is 5ft. View  this development in the pictures below.

November 19, 2013

Today we visited this site and found good results. All residents in this village are co-operating with Richad the technician to ensure success of this project. Water was hit at 14ft and presently they are deepening.

November 25, 2013

At 22ft with a water column of 8ft, excavation has been concluded. Masonry work will begin tomorrow and we shall keep you updated.

December 9, 2013

All masonry work is complete and the water source has been left to set before we can install the pump head. The community has been so supportive and in return are eagerly waiting to witness the first drop of clean water from this water source.

In addition to the construction of a well to provide clean water, our partner fights the spread of disease within the community through training in proper sanitation and hygiene:

The main objectives of TWT’s Sanitation and Hygiene Program are the use of latrines and proper hygiene as 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 contaminates of a household water source.  TWT leverages this relationship, by requiring each village to achieve Open Defecation Free status (defined by one latrine per household), prior to the pump installation for a shallow hand dug well.  Using the immediate gratification of clean water as an impetus, TWT works toward sustainable, interdisciplinary WASH development.

TWT’s social program includes the assignment of one Community Development Officer (CDO) to one 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.

Community Led Total Sanitation

TWT implements the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) program with each of our village partners.  TWT facilitates a CLTS session in which we aim 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 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, embarrassment and shame are frequent motivators for individual households to: build latrines, use the latrines and demand that other households do the same.

We're just getting started, check back soon!


Project Type

Hand-dug wells have been an important source of water throughout human history! Now, we have so many different types of water sources, but hand-dug wells still have their place. Hand dug wells are not as deep as borehole wells, and work best in areas where there is a ready supply of water just under the surface of the ground, such as next to a mature sand dam. Our artisans dig down through the layers of the ground and then line the hole with bricks, stone, or concrete, which prevent contamination and collapse. Then, back up at surface level, we install a well platform and a hand pump so people can draw up the water easily.


Contributors

Project Sponsor - Cole and Lydia Bennett