The water project provides holistic function, which does not separate the physical from the spiritual, by offering solutions to life’s problems and ways to cope in a threatening and hostile world. The borehole water project is a legitimate business that is profitable, sustainable and model of Christian principles. This project has solution of these problems; the area has many cases of ill health caused mainly by water-borne diseases such as typhoid, dysentery and amoebiasis; Malnutrition is common due to low incomes and general poverty in the area; Food crop production is impossible because of inadequate rainfall and wildlife. The proposed borehole project is to alleviate the community lifestyle in water availability and accessibility for life.
SUMMARY
The organisation was established in the year 2008 and legally registered under the ministry of culture and social service as a self- help charitable organization. The group has 15 registered active members. The group was formed in order to cub some poverty related issues affecting people in Yenzuva Sub-location.
One of the outstanding achievements of this group is the St. Bridget Education Centre. The group had realised that the level of education in Yenzuva was very low. In addition, schools were far from the reach of many children. Through the great support of association, which is a partner organization of the group, St. Bridget Education Centre was established in January 2009, starting with 20 pupils. Presently the School is recognised as one of the few Schools that offer quality education in Yenzuva Sub-location.
Although the organisation members are limited in financial resources, they have again sighted two other sticky issues in the area that need quick attention, that is, the need to have access to clean water and health services. The members wish that when these dreams came true through the support of friends and well-wishers, all residents of Yenzuva would be involved in taking care of those resources. The lack of clean water is a contributing factor to the residents’ health problems. The organisation sees an urgent need to first focus on solving water problem.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Yenzuva Sub-location in Mwingi District covers an area of 40 sq km of semi-arid land. The climate is hot and dry but with a moderate agricultural potential of mixed farming; 60% food production and 15% livestock. Yenzuva Sub-location is one of the areas greatly affected by the alarming drought in the Eastern Region of Kenya. Since the last two years, there have been no rains in the area.
There is no single natural water resource in Yenzuva Sub-location and the few dams available are seasonal. St Bridget Educational Centre is one of the affected areas and children in this school do not have access to water. The lacks of rain or water makes it difficult to getting food in the region. When children do not get enough to eat, it may definitely affect their learning ability. The livestock in the area are also affected and most of them end up dying.
There is one seasonal river that runs through Yenzuva Sub-location. In the whole Sub-location, there is one borehole that is community-based in Yenzuva trading centre. This borehole serves the entire sub-location in dry season. The scarcity of water in the sub-location forces women to walk for over three kilometres in search for water points for both domestic and livestock use.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED OUTPUTS
- VISION:
- To improve educational and socio-economic status of Yenzuva Community so as to enable its residents become self- reliant.
- MISSION:
- To mobilize the community, to share and fully participate in promoting good Education, Health and eradicate poverty in the Area.
- GOAL:
- To provide enough and clean water to St. Bridget Centre and the surrounding communities.
- MAIN OBJECTIVE
- To ensure a sustainable access to drinking water through drilling of borehole
- SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
- To improve access to clean water for domestic use and reduce the risk of water borne diseases prevalence in Yenzuva Sub-location
- To have access to water for irrigation purposes.
- SITUATION ANALYSIS
- The water shortage has greatly hampered Yenzuva residents to come up with farming that could cub the rampant hunger situation. It is in this regard that the St. Bridget Empowerment Self- Help Group envision that, with the availability of a bore hole, people can have access to clean water and also be able to irrigate their farms and increase food production in the region.
- AVAILABLE RESOURCES
- Currently the Yenzuva Education and Healthcare Association from France is the main funder of St. Bridget Empowerment Self- Help Group. In addition, the 15 members make a monthly contribution of 200 KES per head. The members would like to organize a marathon race and involve all residents of Yenzuva Sub-location. In it they hope to raise additional funds for the water project. So far, one of the members has donated land for borehole drilling and the group has been able to rise up to 10,000 (ten thousand) KES towards the proposed borehole project. The group is therefore appealing for funds from friends, well-wishers and organisations in order to do this noble project for the development of Yenzuva Sub-location and for the future of their children.
STRATEGIES FOR ACCOMPLISHING THE WATER PROJECT
The type of borehole required is the kind with generator pumping and water tank storage systems. The water will be pumped from the borehole to the main tank. From the main tank the water will be piped to sub-tanks; that might be located in each village of Yenzuva Sub-location. The whole water network is foreseen to serve a population of about 1500 Families there will be water metre system to monitor how much water is used by particular people especially those who will be involved in irrigation.
PROJECT PHASES:
- Projects of this nature will progress through Four (4) Major Phases. These are:
- Hydro geological Survey
- Drilling
- Groundwater Abstraction.
- Storage Tanks and Piping:
- Hydro geological Survey:
This is basically groundwater resources survey to determine the
Geological nature —-Hydro geological nature- —Groundwater potential
From a private conducted survey, the consultancy fee for this phase is estimated at Kenyan SH.50, 000.00. A private sector company has agreed to assist the members if it is given the contract.
Drilling:
This is the actual groundwater development phase. Drilling specifications and tender documents will be prepared by the consulting hydro geologist and sent out to at least 3 reputable rotary drilling contractors. The tender bids are later evaluated and necessary recommendations made to the client. The successful contractor will apply and acquire the drilling authority from the Water Resources Management Authority and also clear with Nema After the award of the contract, the drilling operations can be supervised by the hydro geologist if the client so wishes. This phase is a critical one and is highly technical. Supervision will entail a number of site visits to the project area. The visits will be followed by technical site reports. This phase culminates with the test, pumping of the borehole water.
Water Abstraction:
After drilling operations are completed, necessary borehole characteristics will have been received to enable the selection of the suitable electrical submersible pump. From experience, it is advisable to deal with Davis & Shirtliff Ltd in this phase. They have the necessary experience, equipment and technical backup. Specifications for the pump and its accessories will be prepared by Davis & Shirtliff Ltd in consultation with hydro geologist and they will supervise the pump installation.
Storage Tanks and Piping:
To store water pumped from the borehole, there is need to have three main tanks of 10,000 litres each installed at the main water supply. Pipes will be connected to these three tanks that will be channelled to each water kiosk of each village. Each water kiosk will then have a main regulating water metre. Families that are interested to have water for irrigation will also be required to have metres for regulation purposes.
COMMUNITY WATER COMMITTEE CREATION AND TRAINING
In the meantime, a community water committee will be elected and trained. Its role and responsibilities will be defined. Gender will be taken into consideration for the constitution of the committee.
Training will be provided on water system maintenance, water quality analysis, cost recovering system, cash management. The committee will also include hygiene promoters (trained volunteers or key persons).
SUSTAINABILITY:
In order to ensure that the residents of Yenzuva continue getting clean water from the drilled borehole, there will be a formation and training of Water Management Committee; a group that will be in charge of the upkeep of the borehole. The committee will in-cooperate two members from the St. Bridget Empowerment Self- Help Group and ten people who will be in charge of water kiosks; one from each village.
The water committee will also be in charge of establishing water users’ by-laws, collecting fee for borehole maintenance. The fee collected will be put in the projects bank account and will strictly be used for repairs and water improvements. The group also will also seek the support of Brother John Musyoki-Franciscan Friar, Nairobi, who has been at the forefront in mobilization of the community. He is well versed with development projects and has provided all the technical information relating to the survey of the ground water resources
MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF PROJECT:
For any project to reach its target, there is need for frequent monitoring to help maximise the impact and lessons learnt; hence minimising possible risks that might lead to project failure. The monitoring will include a systematic reporting on how the water operation progresses. The St. Bridget Empowerment Self- Help Group will ensure that there is regular monitoring by professionals to influence the water project success.
For evaluation purposes, there will be a midyear evaluation describing the project intended achievements against the plan outlined in the project. The evaluation will definitely be prepared by parties external to the Yenzuva Water Project.
CONCLUSION:
When the Water Resources Project comes to materialize, it is hoped to serve and improve lives of about 1500 households living in Yenzuva Sub-location. We hope that there will be enough water for regular supply for both domestic and irrigation purposes. Having clean water will definitely get rid of frequent water borne diseases in the region.
