Water Blogged

Thank you for bringing safe water to ⁠Knowledge Center Mbirizi Primary School!

BEFORE:
Despite already having a rainwater collection tank on their premises, Knowledge Center Mbirizi Primary School’s student population of 600 children is so large that the tank always seems to run dry. Students and staff are then forced to make the long walk to the distant borehole well- something that would be challenging enough to the school, but is made even more difficult by the 500 shilling price tag attached to each jerrycan of water that is collected from the well. In order to free the school from this financial and time burden, our implementing partner, Ugandan Water Project (UWP), recommends installing a second rainwater collection system at the school so that their facility is self-sufficient in meeting the daily water needs of their students and staff. We have the opportunity to serve as a catalyst for a brighter educational future for the 600 current students at Knowledge Center Mbirizi Primary School and the hundreds more who will pass through their doors in the decades to come.

PROJECT:
Our implementing partner, Ugandan Water Project, erected a 10,000 liter polyethylene tank on a base made of brick, hard core and cement. Once cured, the crew placed the tank on the base, made an overflow hole in the top of the structure and attached a pipe to it that extends six inches beyond the perimeter of the base. Crew members also attached face boards to the roof of the building adjacent to the tank in order to create a suitable surface to which they attached the gutters that allow water to flow from the metal roof to the tank. Just before the outlet pipe reaches the tank, a “T” joint was inserted to create a first flush, a rudimentary filtration system that reduces the amount of debris and contaminants that enter the tank. The crew then constructed a protective barrier around the tank and first flush, as well as a tap stand located slightly downhill of the tank. The rainwater collection system is paired with Sawyer Point One water filters in order to ensure that all water collection from the tank is safe for drinking.

Check out your impact!
You brought clean water to 600 people
You eliminated 21.84 miles of walking per day
You reduced collection time by ⁠34.17 hours per day

Notes:
– Calculations are based the on number of 20 liter jerrycans used each day at this facility: 50 jerrycans
– One jerrycan per trip to original water source
– Distance is calculated for a round trip, using GPS, as the crow flies

Special thank you to:
Lydia Middleton Elementary, IN and St. Joseph Catholic School, TX for supporting this project.
Our implementing partner: Ugandan Water Project