{"id":246405,"date":"2025-08-13T11:37:16","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T15:37:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/?p=246405"},"modified":"2025-08-13T15:32:23","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T19:32:23","slug":"the-day-britons-water-supply-ran-dry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/2025\/08\/13\/the-day-britons-water-supply-ran-dry\/","title":{"rendered":"The Day Briton\u2019s Water Supply Ran Dry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In June, the 50,000-liter rain tank we built at Kapsotik Primary School<\/a> in Western Kenya developed a leak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
What the tank looked like in 2018.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Kapsotik’s rain tank as it looks now.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This rain tank doesn\u2019t look quite as pristine as it did when it was first constructed in 2018. The plaque with our name on it has faded to black, algae tinges the outer walls green, and rust has formed on the drawing point cover. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But even if it\u2019s not as aesthetically appealing as it was back then, this tank still faithfully serves hundreds of students and teachers every day. It\u2019s a lifeline and a gateway to an educated future for every child who enrolls here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fact that the tank is leaking is an emergency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every<\/em> downed water point is an emergency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once our team heard about the issue, the technicians needed a few days to gather materials and devise a repair plan. During that hectic period, 15-year-old Briton was forced to relive what he\u2019d hoped was behind him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI felt so sad when our water point stopped working because I had to spend a lot of my time outside the school searching for water, as there was no alternative source available,\u201d Briton explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe need for repairs affected me psychologically because it required me to relearn how to carry water to school \u2014 something we had forgotten [how] to do. It also wasted valuable time in the evenings, as I had to go out to fetch water [for the next day], impacting my studies. We spent our precious time that we should use to play for fetching water, and this denied us the opportunity to play.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Briton stands in front of the tank.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Often, when we ask kids what their futures might look like once they have safe and reliable water, it\u2019s hard for them to imagine. In this case, Briton knew exactly what he was missing when the tank wasn\u2019t providing water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But he really didn\u2019t need the reminder of what life was like before, because he remembered all too clearly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBefore this water point was available, we had to draw water from the river, which was very dirty,\u201d Briton said. \u201cDuring that period, waterborne diseases were prevalent in school. I definitely don\u2019t want to return to that situation because of the negative experiences we endured.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Kapsotik student fetches water from a pool in 2018.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLearners were compelled to leave school to search for water, often from unsafe sources,\u201d added health teacher Lacelyne Sakwa. \u201cThis situation forced students to gather any water available, disregarding its safety, just to avoid facing punishment. Waterborne diseases were rampant during that time, causing frequent delays in school programs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lacelyne.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This terrible situation is exactly what we aim to prevent by repairing water points as quickly as we can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Repair<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since we constructed this tank in November 2018, our monitoring and maintenance team members have visited or called to assess the tank\u2019s functionality 40 times. But we can\u2019t check our water points\u2019 functionality every day, so the students were the first to notice something was wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allison Gregory, our Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, Resolution, and Learning, gave more context about the tank\u2019s issue. \u201cThe school noticed that the tank was emptying faster than usual and going dry within a few days following a rainstorm. This red flag helped the field officer identify the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe had reported the issue to the health teacher, and she had promised to inform the school headteacher, and also inform [your] organization [about] the same,\u201d Briton explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe were advised to contact the organization for major issues requiring specialist attention, while minor issues like cracks could be fixed by us,\u201d Lacelyne said. \u201cWe recognized the issue and reported it to the school headteacher, believing he would take action by arranging repairs. However, we learned that we could not address the problem ourselves due to financial constraints. Therefore, we called and reported the matter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the school reported the issue to us, our teams worked quickly to address it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Operations and Maintenance team inspected the tank to determine that water was leaking through the base, an issue we refer to as seepage,\u201d Allison said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The inside of the school\u2019s rain tank prior to the repair.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSeepage depleted the water supply more quickly than usual, reducing the amount of water available for students,\u201d Allison continued. \u201cThe school faced challenges in meeting daily water needs because it had no way of knowing how long the water would stay in the tank. Reliable access to water is crucial for sustaining a healthy, focused learning environment, so the uncertainty created by the leaky rainwater tank created a significant challenge.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the preparations were complete, our operations and maintenance team arrived to conduct the repair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
A technician uses a branch as a makeshift tool.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Technicians repair the guttering and prepare to patch seepage spots.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Repairs underway!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The construction artisans used waterproof cement to patch the holes in the base of the tank where seepage was occurring. It then took a few more days for the patches to dry and cure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The patched inside of the tank.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Water Flows Again<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once the repair was complete, our team members cleaned and disinfected the tank using chlorine. After, they waited for the water to replenish before treating it for safe drinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, the weather was on our side. Just two days after the repair was completed, our team members visited Kapsotik again to find the tank providing water once more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Water from the tank’s spigot flows into a jerrycan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This meant the students and school could go back to using water for all their drinking, hygiene, sanitation, and curricular needs. But even more importantly, it meant kids like Briton were back in class rather than walking long distances in search of unsafe water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Briton smiles while filling a jerrycan from the tank.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf no one had repaired this water point, we could continue going back to [our] old ways of getting water, which are not safe,\u201d Briton said. \u201cI feel so excited because I will get water from within as opposed to getting it from distant places.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Students fetching water.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt gives me a sense of security, knowing there is someone who cares about us and our well-being,\u201d Lacelyne added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe would have faced a return to water shortages at school, likely leading to an increase in waterborne and water-related illnesses due to the use of unsafe sources. The water source I rely on at school is now reliable. I feel immensely grateful, because it demonstrates that there are people who genuinely care about our health and well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Some students use a hoe to check whether the tank has any leaks post-repair. Thankfully, we\u2019ve received no further reports of the tank going dry!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At The Water Project, we care about the health and well-being of every person served by one of our water sources. That\u2019s what we mean when we talk about our Water Promise<\/a> \u2014 a pledge we make whenever we work with a community to always provide them with safe water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As our founder, Peter, always says: \u201cA broken water point is a broken promise.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And it\u2019s true. Building a water project in a community and then leaving them to fend for themselves for repairs is short-sighted<\/a>, even if the intentions were good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without our help, this repair project would have stalled when Lacelyne found out the school didn\u2019t have the money to fix the tank themselves. Instead of just a few days without water, Briton\u2019s entire future would have been left hanging in the balance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Girls water plants in the school garden. In Kenya, students studying agriculture are required to grow their own crops for practical exams.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ongoing Maintenance: Part of the Promise<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every water point we support is part of a long-term commitment that includes routine check-ins, water quality testing, and preventative maintenance. We visit regularly<\/a>, spot potential issues early, and make sure every community knows they haven\u2019t been forgotten. When something goes wrong, our field staff don’t react; they respond<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Kapsotik\u2019s students were fetching water from rivers and pools of brown water along the side of a road, there was no doubt their interim water supply was unsafe for drinking. Unfortunately, research shows that even one sip<\/a> of contaminated water after months of safe water access can undo much of the health protection those months provided. Illnesses can return quickly, especially for children, erasing the hard-earned progress of reliable water access \u2014 and water-related infections like cholera<\/a>, typhoid<\/a>, and schistosomiasis<\/a> can be deadly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We couldn\u2019t prevent that short delay when Kapsotik\u2019s students were forced back to their old, unsafe water sources. But monitoring and maintenance mean that, as we speak, kids like Briton and teachers like Lacelyne are back to accessing safe, reliable water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A student refills a Lifestraw<\/a> container, which the school probably uses for drinking water and\/or handwashing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once the water had started flowing again, we asked Briton and Lacelyne what they would say to the kind donors who helped fix their water point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel so happy and grateful to the donors for making it possible,\u201d Briton said. \u201cI kindly urge the donors to continue supporting projects in schools for reliability, because [the] majority of them may not be in a position to reinstate their water points when they break down because of financial constraints.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would encourage them to keep supporting us and other beneficiaries because we understand that clean water is crucial for good health,\u201d Lacelyne said. \u201cWhen we have access to clean water, we can significantly minimize the impact of waterborne diseases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your gift toward our Water Promise<\/a> will help stop that \u201cone sip\u201d from happening \u2014 funding urgent repairs like this one so safe water flows fast when things go wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you sign up<\/a> for recurring donations of any frequency, you\u2019ll do something even more powerful. You\u2019ll join the Water Promise Circle, a group of dedicated supporters whose continuous generosity fuels our repair work and fosters a sense of community and purpose. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI chose to be part of the Water Promise Circle because I care deeply about people and the planet,\u201d said one Water Promise Circle donor. \u201cClean water shouldn\u2019t be a one-time gift \u2014 it should be a lasting promise<\/strong>. Supporting long-term solutions felt like the most meaningful way to help.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

We couldn\u2019t agree more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you give<\/a> once or every month, you can be part of keeping safe water flowing for schools like Kapsotik \u2014 and kids like Briton \u2014 for years to come.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Briton\u2019s school tank ran dry, he lost more than water\u2014he lost time, health, and hope. See how a swift repair brought it all back.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34448,"featured_media":246419,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[58,190,187,199],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-246405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-from-the-field","category-water-and-education","category-water-and-health","category-western-kenya"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246405","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34448"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=246405"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246405\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":246433,"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/246405\/revisions\/246433"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/246419"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=246405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=246405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaterproject.org\/community\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=246405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}