Joy as Communities Access Clean and Safe Water
By Martin Muluka, World Vision Communication Specialist, Kenya
The value of water is about much more than its price. Water has enormous and complex value for households, food, culture, health, education, economics and the integrity of our natural environment. For World Vision, safeguarding this critical resource for the benefit of everyone is at the heart of its projects in drought-affected communities.The organisation’s water access project at Mapotea village, situated in Kenya’s Kilifi County, offers a comprehensive understanding of water’s true, multidimensional value.
Among residents in the area, valuing water is something that they do everyday. This is because a drop of water at a nearby tap means a shorter trip in search of the commodity over a long distance.
In addition, the community also has water pans that are still filled with water, despite the grim forecast of reduced rain by the meteorological department in Kenya.The water pans are oases of hope, which put smiles on the faces of community members as they provide sufficient water for their livestock in times of drought.
"The water pans and water kiosk are a big blessing to me. Before World Vision build them, I had to walk for long to a place known as Jila to get water for cooking, washing the children and for my animals. Life was difficult for my children and me, because we would spend nearly half a day looking for water. At the water point in Jila, the queue used to be long. We are happy as a family because getting water is now a joy and not a pain like before,” says Dama, a resident of Mapotea Village.
The Mapotea water project was implemented through World Vision’s Integrated Emergency response for Drought affected Communities in Kenya. It is funded by the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.Under the project, the organisation has established an effective water infrastructure system and trained communities on how to effectively manage it.
“This is a one of a kind water project that we have done. The system is fully automated, resulting in very little water wastage through spillage. The system also utilises solar energy, which has greatly reduced the maintenance costs,” says Dennis Mramba, the Project Manager for World Vision in Tana River, Kenya.According to Mramba, the solar system is ideal since the area has adequate sunshine that can generate energy for pumping the water.
The community has a water committee that was trained on how to use the system, maintain it and manage finances generated from selling the water. The good thing is that the system is cashless. Money is loaded into the chip via a master card given by the bank. Through this system, we can keep track of litres of water dispensed and the amount collected .The machine is easy to use even for children and it is efficient in conserving water,” adds Mramba.
At Walesoreya village in the neighbouring Tana River County, the residents are equally relieved that they no longer struggle to access water, thanks to a Water kiosk installed by World Vision in the community.
“We are very happy as residents of Wolesoreya village. Before World Vision build this water point, we had to walk for long before accessing water for our animals and for domestic use. Now, our children and women are happy because water is near them,” states Hassan, the Secretary of the Wolesoreya Water Committee.
Apart from the community members many children have benefitted from the water project in Tana river County.
“I like coming to the water point because it is near, I play with my friends and help my mother get water for cooking, “ says Yusra.
Engineer George, a World Vision Kenya staff who oversees water projects in Tana River notes: “In line with our commitment to provide safe water for use, we carry out regular water tests for all water dispensing facilities installed. This is done monthly with the involvement of the County government, Ministry of Health and the Water Management Committees set up in villages.”
*Featured Photo at the top: Dama with her daughters Sidi (on the front) and Saumu (on the bike left) fetch water for use at Mapotea water kiosk in Kilifi County, Kenya.