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 the Bunyama B community in Uganda:
Background:
Bunyama B, is a pleasant farming dominated community, located in Kyankende parish, Kiryandongo sub-county in Kirandongo district. Residents of this village practice subsistent agriculture where all food grown in this village is consumed at the household level despite having fertile soils. This has kept most of the residents of this village in abject poverty where many cannot afford to meet basic needs in life. Daniel the Community Development Officer (CDO) of The Water Trust (TWT) spoke to Kiiza Deo popularly known as the ‘Mayor’ in this village who confirmed the above information and went ahead to reveal that this community has no access to clean water. He says that the residents collect water from an open source which is very dangerous to their health.The CDO then mobilized the village to a meeting through the village chairman where The Water Trust was introduced to the community. In this meeting a resolution was passed to apply for a water source from TWT.
Mr. Okech David the village chairman wrote a letter to The Water Trust requesting for a water source to enable this community to access clean water from a protected source. In his letter he informed us that his villages of about 250 residents whom were desperately in need of access to clean and safe water. In his application letter he said that the community is ready to contribute all locally available materials and to host the technician with accommodation and food for the duration of the technician’s stay in the village during the construction process of the well.
The Water Trust 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:
September 25, 2014
Today we delivered Bernard the technician to the community of Bunyama B with all the equipment that will be used in the construction of the water source. The community has given him accommodation and will feed him for the time he will be in this community to help them construct their shallow well.
October 2, 2014
This week Bernard and the community team have managed to excavate the well to 17 ft and reaching water at 14ft. The soil formation remains soft which will ease the process of excavation of this well and Hassan the tipper truck driver for TWT has just delivered the community contribution of sand, hardcore and bricks onsite.
October 10, 2014
Bernard the technician and the community volunteers have managed to excavate the well to and brick up the well to stabilize the walls. Maurice the Assistant technical supervisor has noted that the recharge for this well looks promising. The rainy season continues to affect the rate of progress on moving towards deepening the well as community participation is not consistent. This issue is being addressed with the support of the TWT social team community development officer and local leadership and we are assured that process of deepening be completed by next week.
October 17, 2014
This week has proven to be much better for Bernard the technician and the community of Bunyama B. Bernard managed to deepen the well by an additional 2ft to reach 22ft and will need to try and go a little further by a foot more. The soil texture remains manageable and recharge remains good, as Bernard begins the process of bricking up the well. Additional bricks will be needed.
October 24, 2014
This week Bernard the technician has managed to successfully deepen the well by another foot to reach 23 ft and the soil remains stable. He has also been busy with bricking up the walls of the well to the top. The well recharge has been measured by Maurice the TWT Assistant technical supervisor and has reported it as being good. The next step will be for Bernard to clean and cover the well and work with the community to construct a fence around the water point.
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.
