Great episode, Dave! I have a question (or two): how do they deal with the sewage created with a lot more running water for cleaning and flushing? And how do they maintain the system when something breaks down? People with advanced technical reading with technical skills used to be pretty hard to find and systems would break down and stay broken down. But the Luo are also reputed to be the scholars of Kenya.
This is Tami. I’m jumping back in to respond. Dave may have additional responses too! It’s very important to Water1st and its partner in Kenya that whatever water system they support is sustainable in the long run. Too many wells have been dug in Kenya and elsewhere that are not operational five years down the line. So these systems are put in place essentially as utilities. They only work because the community backs them, understands the systems, and supports them. There is a water committee formed in each community. Each household receiving water and sanitation pays an affordable fee. The water committee collects and manages this fee. There is strict accounting and transparency. There is a fund to assist those who cannot pay the fee. And as you’ll read about in the next post, the committee engages in new entrepreneurial pursuits to help those who may struggle with the fee to raise the money. The fees also provide money to repair and maintain the system down the line when Water1st and its partner fully release the project to the community. In addition, local residents are trained in the operation and maintenance of the systems. In terms of the sanitation of toilets and how waste is handled, I’ll talk some about that in my next post. It’s a truly innovative system. And is transformative. For example, the head is Water1st, Marla Nilson, who is traveling with us, told me that immediately after a water system like this is operational the school attendance of girls shoot’s up. Water is so foundational to so many other good things happening in a community. Water truly is life in many, many ways.
Thanks for sharing. We North Americans can take a lot of things for granted.
Thanks for writing/covering for Tami Dave. Great descriptions of the water systems and people. Looking forward to hearing more about water1st
Great episode, Dave! I have a question (or two): how do they deal with the sewage created with a lot more running water for cleaning and flushing? And how do they maintain the system when something breaks down? People with advanced technical reading with technical skills used to be pretty hard to find and systems would break down and stay broken down. But the Luo are also reputed to be the scholars of Kenya.
But this is a very encouraging project!
Hi Cheryl -
This is Tami. I’m jumping back in to respond. Dave may have additional responses too! It’s very important to Water1st and its partner in Kenya that whatever water system they support is sustainable in the long run. Too many wells have been dug in Kenya and elsewhere that are not operational five years down the line. So these systems are put in place essentially as utilities. They only work because the community backs them, understands the systems, and supports them. There is a water committee formed in each community. Each household receiving water and sanitation pays an affordable fee. The water committee collects and manages this fee. There is strict accounting and transparency. There is a fund to assist those who cannot pay the fee. And as you’ll read about in the next post, the committee engages in new entrepreneurial pursuits to help those who may struggle with the fee to raise the money. The fees also provide money to repair and maintain the system down the line when Water1st and its partner fully release the project to the community. In addition, local residents are trained in the operation and maintenance of the systems. In terms of the sanitation of toilets and how waste is handled, I’ll talk some about that in my next post. It’s a truly innovative system. And is transformative. For example, the head is Water1st, Marla Nilson, who is traveling with us, told me that immediately after a water system like this is operational the school attendance of girls shoot’s up. Water is so foundational to so many other good things happening in a community. Water truly is life in many, many ways.
Thanks Dave! It was very moving to hear how involved the people are in installing the water and sanitation.
Very educational, sobering and humbling. Thanks Dave.
Great post, Dave. If there’s one thing we learned, it certainly takes a village to believe and conquer a new water project!