Project Status



Project Type:  Borehole Well and Hand Pump

Regional Program: Western Uganda WaSH Program

Impact: 245 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Jan 2021

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 03/12/2024

Project Features


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When the borehole in Kabbo Village used to work, people here made multiple visits per day to get the water they needed. For the 245 people here, this conveniently located well made fetching water easy - until it broke down and was not fixed.

Now, people make just 1 trip to get water. That is because they have to walk for up to an hour to reach the nearest protected spring. Because the trip is so long, community members have to get all of the water they need for the day at 1 time.

The protected spring is distant from the major settlements and a lot of productive time is currently spent on the pursuit of clean and safe water by the households.

"Our drinking water condition has changed for the worse when Kabbo Borehole stopped working. The protected springs are far and dangerous for children and elderly people and women because it's far in the valley," shared Dorothy Rwolekere, a 73-year-old farmer.

"I am now old and can't walk the distance for water."

The borehole was constructed by the government in 2008. The community and the well's water user committee managed to support the well for a few years, paying for minor repairs when needed. But a major breakdown proved to be too expensive for the community to pay for, so now it sits unused.

The spring they now depend on is located more than a mile from the community. Access to the spring is also a major challenge especially to the children since it is located within a very steep valley. This spring is also affected by runoff which compromises its quality, especially during the rainy season.

"Going to the spring is far. I wish we could fix the borehole," said 10-year-old Gloria.

"My problems would be solved."

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

Rehabilitated Well

We are going to restore water to the broken-down borehole. When this borehole is restored to its original status, this will provide the community with easy access to clean and safe water. We will remove the old pump, clear out the well, reinstall a new stainless steel pump, and build a new well pad to protect the water.

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 handwashing are all possible contaminants of a household water supply. Each participating village must achieve Open Defecation Free status (defined by 1 latrine per household) before the pump installation for a shallow hand-dug well.

This social program includes the assignment of 1 Community Development Officer (CDO) to each village. The CDO encourages each household to build an ideal homestead that includes a latrine, handwashing 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 the 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.

Improved Sanitation

The aim is that all households own an improved latrine. Many households do not use a latrine but use the bush. Due to open defecation, feces are spread all over the village. This leads to waterborne diseases and contamination of groundwater and surface water. Our aim is that the community is able to live a healthy life free of preventable diseases. We endeavor that at the end of our presence in the community, people will have both access to sustainable, clean water and access to sanitation. We have now organized families to form digging groups for latrine construction, and empowered them with tools they will need.

Project Updates


January, 2021: Kabo Village project complete!

Please note, all photos in this report were taken before social distancing recommendations went into effect.

Water is now flowing from a rehabilitated borehole well in Kabo, Uganda. People are thrilled about this development that has further unified their community. Community members also attended hygiene and sanitation planning sessions and financial training and have learned a lot that will enable them to live healthier lives.

"The old spring well where we used to collect water was in a very steep valley and very risky" I feared going there to collect water. I am very happy that this borehole has been repaired because my safety is now guaranteed, and I can collect water at any time that I wish," said Frank A, a 12-year-old boy who lives near the well.

Frank A

Rehabilitated Borehole

We worked with the community to determine the best possible sites for this rehabilitation – there are a few wells in the area that need serious intervention. After meetings and visits around the community, we determined this borehole to be the best option.

Removing the well parts.

Some community members were willing to host the drilling technicians, giving them a place to sleep and food to eat.

The team pulled the old pump, cleared out the well, reinstalled a new stainless steel pump, and built a new well pad to protect the water.

Cementing the well platform

We conducted a yield test and checked the water quality before handing over this safe, reliable water point to the community.

Due to the OVID-19 pandemic, the Sub County and District stakeholders were not in attendance. Though few people, especially the Water and Sanitation Committee, were present, and the water source was handed over to them for use. Kenneth Isingoma, the Chairperson of the Water and Sanitation Committee, gave a brief speech thanking us for rehabilitating their water point.

"On behalf of this community am very grateful to you for rehabilitating this borehole. This water point will reduce the expenses we used to incur on the repairs due to the frequent breakdown due to the replacement of the new components/spare parts," he said.

"The distance and time spent moving around to the neighboring communities looking for water will also be reduced, and the elders in this village can now easily access water. This water point will help improve my economic status since the water from this borehole will also be used for making bricks, which I will sell to raise money."

"I also plan to encourage my wife and other women to do kitchen gardening by growing crops like tomatoes, eggplants, and some vegetables which can be sold to improve on our household income as a family. Conflicts at the other neighboring water points due to congestion will also be reduced since we now have our own water point and currently in very good condition."

Training

The community was mobilized through a series of meetings that sensitized them on the importance and purpose of saving. This included meetings to create a community profile (mapping physical environment and stakeholders in the community) and a participatory vulnerability capacity assessment exercise. In this exercise, community members mapped out their shared risks and opportunities, including the water point breaking down. The savings group training date was scheduled with the community.

A 1-day training was scheduled in 4 major parts: introduction, first saving meeting, first loan meeting, and share.

We worked with the community to establish a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) and a water user committee. The savings group set up a fund to provide small loans to each other, and another fund used to pay for any repairs to the well if an issue arises. The group also agreed on a social fund to contribute to each meeting to provide grants to fellow group members to help them with funeral expenses or catastrophes such as fire damage.

In collaboration with the community facilitator and natural leaders, we trained households on critical hygiene and sanitation facilities to build. Our teams monitor the construction of these facilities, such as latrines, dishracks, refuse pits, handwashing facilities, and bath shelters.

We have trained local artisans on fabricating and selling sanitation products that allow for more hygienic and accessible latrines.

Our teams will provide follow-up training to support putting the savings group into practice. Saving procedures and loans were understood, and good skills and knowledge were gained from the sessions. However, continuous coaching will be required in records management.

The community conceptually understood the sanitation and hygiene parts in other training but will need support and monitoring to ensure follow-through in building new facilities and developing new habits.




November, 2020: Kabo Village project underway!

Dirty water is making people in Kabo Village sick. Thanks to your generosity, we’re working to install a clean water point and much more.

Get to know this community through the narrative and pictures we’ve posted, and read about this water, sanitation, and hygiene project. We look forward to reaching out with news of success!




Project Photos


Project Type

Abundant water is often right under our feet! Beneath the Earth’s surface, rivers called aquifers flow through layers of sediment and rock, providing a constant supply of safe water. For borehole wells, we drill deep into the earth, allowing us to access this water which is naturally filtered and protected from sources of contamination at the surface level. First, we decide where to drill by surveying the area and determining where aquifers are likely to sit. To reach the underground water, our drill rigs plunge through meters (sometimes even hundreds of meters!) of soil, silt, rock, and more. Once the drill finds water, we build a well platform and attach a hand pump. If all goes as planned, the community is left with a safe, closed water source providing around five gallons of water per minute! Learn more here!


A Year Later: School Fees? No Problem!

January, 2022

A year ago, your generous donation helped Kabo Community in Uganda access clean water – creating a life-changing moment for Ahumuza. Thank you!

Keeping The Water Promise

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

This giving community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Kabo Community 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!

"We used to fetch water from the protected spring located within the valley because our borehole was broken and it was beyond the capacity of the community to repair. Now that this borehole is fully functional and in a very good condition, [the] majority have abandoned the protected spring and I have never gone back there to collect water again," said Ahumuza, an 11-year-old boy from the community.

He continued, "This water point has relieved me from the long distance and the challenges of accessing the protected spring within the valley. Currently, I am able to help my mother in spraying her gardens since we now have enough water. This has boosted our household income and has made it easy for my parents to pay for my school fees in time."


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 Kabo Community 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 Kabo Community – 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.


Contributors

Project Sponsor - First Presbyterian Church of Titusville (PA)
4 individual donor(s)