Rehabilitation Project
The report below from our partner in the field gives some great information on the construction of a new hand-dug well in Kigaya Village in Uganda:
Background:
Kigaya village is located Kyankende parish, Kiryandongo sub-county, Kiryandongo district. This village has a small but fast growing trading center where residents converge every evening for interaction and socializing at the end of a long day of work in their gardens. Residents of this village are challenged by the need to access clean and safe water.
Lucy Omar 59 years old, migrated to this village from Gulu district is a mother of five children finds it hard to fetch clean water from the protected water source in the village less than a kilometer away after working in her garden, “I am left with no alternative other than drawing water from the nearby pond especially when I am tired after working in my garden. My children are still young and it is risky to send them unaccompanied to the well in the village centre.” Consumption of contaminated water from open sources is the biggest source of waterborne diseases like bilharzia, diarrhea, dysentery and typhoid among the community.
On the 17th July 2014, Mr. Byaruhanga John the village chairman wrote an application letter on behalf the community to The Water Trust requesting for a water source. In his letter, he confirmed that the community had already mobilized all locally available materials like a trip of sand, 2000 bricks and a trip of hardcore. They have also identified where a technician will be hosted for the duration of the construction at one of the resident’s home and the community are ready to support the technician with voluntary labour.
The Water Trust (TWT) will have an intensive program to provide access to clean water and sanitation in this village. The community will participate in excavating and constructing the water source. In the meantime the aim is that all households own an improved latrine. Many households do not use a latrine but use the bush. Due to the practice of open defecation, faeces are spread all over the village and contaminate open water sources. Our aim is to ensure that the community is able to live a healthy life, free of preventable waterborne diseases. We strive to work in partnership with the community to access safe clean water and improved sanitation.
Construction Progress:
August 8, 2014
Bernard the technician was transferred to the community of Kigaya during the week to work with the community volunteers to construct a well. SO far the community participation has been good and the excavation process is moving along steadily through hard late-rite formation.
August 14, 2014
This week Bernard the technician and the community volunteers have been able to excavate the well at Kigaya village to 14 ft reaching a foot so far as the water column and the soil formation remains stable. Hassan the TWT Tipper Truck driver has already delivered the locally available materials and a drainer to the site to ensure the process of construction continues smoothly.
August 22, 2014
This week Bernard the technician and the volunteers excavated until 22 ft before they encountered sandy soil formation which resulted in the well collapsing. Two concrete rings have been lowered into the well and packed with extra hardcore to secure into place. Bernard will monitor the well to see if it stabilizes itself before moving forward with completing the construction of the well and measuring the recharge.
August 28, 2014
Extra hardcore and clay have been delivered to the site by Hassan the TWT Truck driver. Bernard the technician has bricked up the well above the water zone while filling hard core in the collapsed end of the diameter. The community is very active and their participation is good. Running sand and mud is still coming through the bottom but will stopped when bricking up is complete.
September 5, 2014
At 22ft with a water column of 8ft, this well is complete and awaits installation. It had to be packed with extra hard core for one foot to stop running mud from coming in and the wall was protected with brick work and clay. Recharge was measured and found to be good and it has been covered to allow it set as we plan its installation.
September 19, 2014
This shallow hand dug well is fully cured and it has been scheduled for installation on Monday September 22, 2014. We shall keep you updated.
September 25, 2014
Access to clean water is not a problem to this community any more! The well was installed and the community is so excited about this achievement. View this update in the pictures shared below.
Sanitation and Hygiene Progress
The main objectives of TWT’s Sanitation and Hygiene Program are the use of latrines and observing proper hygiene practices 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 at critical times are all possible contaminates to the water supply at the household level. TWT leverages this relationship, by requiring each participating 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.
The Water Trust’s social program includes the assignment of one Community Development Officer (CDO) per village. The CDO encourages each household to build an ideal homestead that includes: a latrine with hand-washing facility, a rubbish pit, separate structure for animals and drying rack for dishes.
Community Led Total Sanitation
The Water Trust implements the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach 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 are frequent motivators for individual households to: build latrines, use the latrines and demand that other households do the same.
