WATER AND SANITATION
Access to clean water is a common problem in Eastern Africa and this has huge health impacts. After malaria, diarrheal diseases, which often result from poor water quality, are the most common cause of death in Uganda, and many of the most severe diseases endemic in Africa, such as cholera and typhoid, are transmitted via communal water sources. 3 children die every minute from water-related illnesses (UNICEF). That’s 9 children in the time it takes you to read this page.
Water is also in scarce supply – families walk long distances and spend a lot of time collecting water. They may struggle to provide enough water for both themselves and the animals and crops which are their livelihoods in the dry season. Therefore, lack of water can cause disease, famine and poverty, and reduce the time families have available for other essential activities. This is why it has a prominent place in the Sustainable Development Goal: SDG 6.
OUR SOLUTION AND IMPACT
Afrinspire works with African communities to provide water not only for drinking, but also for cooking, washing, crop irrigation and rearing livestock. We believe that water is essential for sustainable development, healthy ecosystems, and ultimately human survival. We use a multifaceted approach to protecting and storing clean water for these central needs on a community-by-community basis.
The number of constructions supported by the charity has risen particularly rapidly since 2015, made possible by increased donations enhancing our capacity to invest. Subsequently, £64,845.76 has been contributed by Afrinspire since 2006 and 43,150 people have been helped to access clean water.
To read more information about the impact, click here to view our Water Supply Impact Report
​“I used to spend 5 hours daily collecting water 3km from my home. The construction of this water tank has made my life easy; I have time to do my domestic cares”
Mrs Amuza, Community Health Worker
AREAS OF WORK
For just £1.50 we can help 1 person access clean water
Since 2006, we have helped 43,150 people to access clean water by constructing
110 protected springs
10 shallow wells
84 water tanks
Water Source Protection
​The most cost-effective option for access to clear water is source-protection, which can take the form of various types of wells, and spring protection. These are produced by locally-trained teams with a contribution from the local community, and maintained by small village ‘water committees’ who care for the water sources. This partnership with communities , built on mutual respect and expertise ensures that water is sustainably available to those who need it.
Water Storage
Where water source protection is not possible or practical, or where a large volume of water is required in a specific place, we also work with communities to support rainwater harvesting and storage. This works particularly well in Uganda, which receives a lot of rain at some points of the year, and very little at others. Storage tanks have been placed in villages, schools and other training institutions.
MECDO
Mount Elgon Community Development Organisation
Education and Sanitation
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Our multi-faceted approach to ensuring clean water also involves providing basic health and health education, as part of the Functional Adult Literacy, for example by explaining the need to wash hands, and the link between open defecation and sickness. Simple ‘pit latrines’ ensure that human waste does not contaminate water sources.
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Afrinspire has assisted schools in constructing school latrine blocks.
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Shallow Wells
In recent years, we have moved away from the construction of tanks towards increased investment in protected springs and shallow wells. So far the Busia team has constructed 10 shallow wells which have helped 7594 people.
The reason for constructing shallow wells is when the water table is just a few meters below the ground level but there is no water coming to the surface. The people dig a hole to reach the water and it ends up as a muddy and contaminated source. By digging down, placing large circular pipes vertically and with gravel and stones in the water source. Once the pipes are capped off with a concrete slab, the vertical pipe bring clean water to the surface by using a hand pump.
The presentation of the hand-pump at the surface is the same as for a deep borehole but it is from a shallow source. It is a fraction of the cost of deep drilling and does not draw down the water table.
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For example, we sent one of our local construction teams from Busia to help a community at Paya Sub-County (Uganda). With funding from Wimslow Wells, the local team constructed a shallow well on 26 January 2020 (see pictured). This offered the community access to a quality source of water.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
SUPPORT
SUPPORT the construction of a new water source or water storage system for as little as £2 per person (far less than many development agencies!)
DEVELOP
DEVELOP your understanding of the critical role of water and sanitation for sustainable development
GET INVOLVED
DONATE
DONATE to our water and sanitation programmes to provide clean water for communities