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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nIn a wealthier country, a citizen might not even know when water is scarce in their area. But in Uganda, where people find their own water, the seasons and their effects on water resources matter much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Enock explained: “According to the [most recent] Ministry of Water and Environment sector performance report, only 67% of Ugandans<\/a> in rural communities have access to clean and safe water, with 85% of [the water points] functional (working at the time of study). Out of these, 95.1% are in compliance with the National Drinking Water Standards. The rural communities in Uganda still lack access to safe water, leaving a big portion of the population still unserved.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only a staggering 19% of people<\/a> in Uganda have access to safe drinking water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Water is generally plentiful during the wet season, which occurs from March to May and between September to November when we experience increased rainfall,\u201d Enock said. \u201cAs such, rivers, lakes, and ground aquifers are replenished, contributing to high water availability. Households also engage in rainwater harvesting for daily water needs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the rains bring rain to fill people\u2019s rainwater harvesting containers and recharge groundwater<\/a> levels, the rain also presents some problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some issues are more straightforward, like water points flooding enough to be unusable and contaminated, like in Kitonozi<\/a> Community, where both of the available water points suffer (or become entirely unusable) due to rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The community\u2019s protected spring, flooded even throughout the dry season due to poor drainage, goes completely underwater during the wet season. And the only other water source, a shallow well shared with a school, suffers the same fate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStorm runoff during this season significantly impacts water quality,\u201d Enock said. \u201cStormwater runoff carries pollutants, such as sediment, nutrients, pesticides, etc., from land into lakes, rivers, and streams. Thus, this can degrade water quality even for ground aquifers.” <\/p>\n\n\n “My primary water source is a scoop hole near my home, but the water is very dirty and unsafe,\u201d said 26-year-old Christopher Abigaba from Kisalizi<\/a> Community. \u201cI assume that, this source being in a valley, rainwater carries feces [to] the water point. There are people who abandoned this scoop hole because there is someone who defecated in the water source.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lower water quality translates to higher cases of water-related diseases, more money spent on treatment and medications, and less time at work or school. But with no other options for water, the people where we work in Uganda must drink whatever water they can find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the dry season, fewer contaminants enter the water sources via rain. But without the rain to bolster water reserves and fill household rain collection containers, there is less water to satisfy the same population. Long queues form at scant water sources \u2014 and in some cases, surface water<\/a> resources like pools and streams disappear altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Water scarcity is more common during the dry seasons,\u201d Enock added. \u201cDuring these months, there is reduced rainfall, which leads to lower water levels in wells, impacting water availability.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n One example of water scarcity due to the dry season is in Okweche<\/a> Community, where the open hole people collect water from drastically reduces during the dry season, inciting worry and water rationing.<\/p>\n\n\n \u201cOur primary water source is the open hole, which is open to contamination,\u201d said Mary, who lives in Okweche. \u201cIt is seasonal, sometimes low quality, and [in] a dangerous area, with sometimes visible particles and organisms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Enock said: \u201cThe dry season brings water scarcity challenges where sometimes our water users are faced with long queues at the available water sources leading to long waiting time and subsequently increasing the time required to access safe water.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Kihagani Kyakantu<\/a>, their water sources used to disappear entirely before we constructed a new borehole well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “During the dry season, all the dams dry up, and accessing water becomes hard,\u201d explained Winnie Kanyana, a 36-year-old housewife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The dry season is primarily hard on people \u2014 but water point hardware suffers too, creating more problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDuring the dry season, household water needs are met by the communal water source majorly,\u201d Enock said. \u201cThis leads to over-usage of the borehole resulting in wearing out of pump parts such as the bearings, etc. This is evident by the high water point maintenance costs met by communities during dry seasons compared to wet seasons.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n To address the issues of water scarcity and availability in Uganda, we drill borehole wells, which reach stable groundwater reserves deep underground. Using this technology foregoes the scarcity of surface water throughout the dry season and secures a steady flow of safe groundwater for drinking \u2014 and for washing school uniforms, like Noeline\u2019s from Kyamukudumi<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n “I will regularly put on clean uniforms for school, including bathing, but also have clean drinking water. No more eating food late and no waking up very early to go collect water before going to school,” said 10-year-old Noeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we install more and more reliable water sources in this area, the lines at each water source will reduce. This means collecting water will be faster and easier for everyone, a key component for reducing rates of water-related illnesses. More water sources will also mean fewer people per water point, which will reduce the strain on each well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These stories from communities across Uganda illuminate the stark realities faced daily in accessing clean and safe water. From the flooded water points in Kitonozi Community to the contaminated open hole in Okweche, providing water in Uganda is a constant battle against nature’s elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our efforts in Uganda have already shown promising results, transforming the lives of many. The joy and relief that come with accessing clean water, as seen in the smile of 10-year-old Noeline, motivate us to expand our reach and impact. Securing safe water through borehole wells mitigates the effects of seasonal changes on water availability and contributes to healthier communities, improved education outcomes, and enhanced quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each donation brings us one step closer to ensuring that no child has to wake up early to collect water before school, no community has to ration their water use during the dry season, and no water point suffers from overuse and rapid wear and tear.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Wet Season<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Dry Season<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How We Help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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