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 Kinyara I West Aywer Kilok Village in Uganda:
Background Information:
Kinyara I West Aywer Kilok is a sub village that was carved out of Kinyara local council where The Water Trust has already completed 2 village partnerships and 2 School WASH successfully with the community to provide them access to safe water and good sanitation. This village is located in Kigaya parish, Kigumba sub-county, and is renown for growing beans, maize, ground nuts and cassava. The village is rich with very fertile soils; a reason many people migrated here and have caused a population outburst which has placed pressure on the demand for adequate access to services such as water and healthcare in the district. . The nearest protected source is located 3km away in Kinyara I which TWT jointly constructed three months ago. Arising from the distance to the protected source, residents of this village find themselves collecting water from open and stagnant ponds near their homesteads which is a source of contamination and poses a health risk.
Mr Adyaka Emilio the village chairman wrote an application letter to TWT after his experiences with the two previous villages partnerships and sanitation programs in Kinyara I . In his letter, he expressed how his residents were eagerly ready to work with our technician that we shall send to them and that they were already in the process of mobilizing all locally available materials like 2000bricks, 1trip of hard core and 1trip of sand.
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.
Hygiene and Sanitation Strategy:
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.
Construction Progress:
November 28, 2014
Today we visited this village with Richard the technician who is going to work with the community to help them with constructing the well. Upon arrival, we moved around the village to site a suitable location for the project which was not so easy as the whole village does not have any wet land to help us detect where water could easily get struck during excavation. We zeroed at one location and the community has since started with excavation work.
December 4, 2014
Excavation work is progressing on well with a very enthusiastic community whose support Richard appreciates! Presently the well is 23ft deep and water was struck at the 18th foot. Soil formation is good only that the recharge is poor but may raise as they continue digging.
December 12, 2014
The excavation is going on well at 27ft deep only that the recharge is low and the community participation is not impressive. According to Kaggwa the technical head, excavation works may go as deep as 40ft in order to realize a good recharge and by the fact that we are soon breaking off for the festive season, this site is not going to be finished till next year.
January 16, 2015
Upon returning from Xmas holiday, Richard and the community have resumed excavation works and have taken the well 47feet deep due to the dryness of the well. Maurice the technical assistant supervising this well has advised that they continue to deepen till when they reach stable water.
January 26, 2015
Deepening is still on and the well is now 56ft. Excavation will first stop at 60ft to monitor the recharge rate and if it passes, installation will proceed. If it fails a technical advise will be sought. We shall keep you updated.
February 6, 2015
We are monitoring the recovery rate of this site before making a technical pronouncement to this well. We shall update you with our findings in the next update.
February 16, 2015
After nine days of observation, we found 17ft recharged with water with is good enough and sustainable. The technical department has recommended that brick work on the well walls should begin.
February 27, 2015
Richard the technician at this site had been moved to another site in Kinyara II as we were monitoring the recharge rate of this village. Upon the recommendation to brick up the walls by the technical team, he return after completion of works at Kinyara II to resume work here and we shall keep you updated.
March 6, 2015
Masonry work is progressing of well as the well is being lined up.
March 13, 2015
As brick work is being concluded, excavation has also been stopped at 60ft with a water column of 42ft.
March 20, 2015
Brick work along the well walls has been concluded and clay to protect the walls has been added. Extra materials including 3000 brick and one trip of sand were procured and delivered by The Water Trust to site.
