Water Blogged

Thank you for bringing safe water to ⁠Andy Mwesigwa Comprehensive High School, Bugwanya LC1

Before:
Serving over 200 students in Uganda’s Kakiri community, Andy Mwesigwa Comprehensive High School has expanded significantly in recent years and expects its enrollment numbers to continue rising. Nevertheless, their already insufficient water supply–a nearby shallow well– has stayed the same. Combined with the high risk of water contamination from the well’s shallow depth and the arduous walk along a steep road to reach the well, the school needs a quick solution to its growing water demands. By equipping Andy Mwesigwa Comprehensive High School with a rainwater collection system, we will not only empower the school to adequately meet the increasing water needs of its student body, but also ensure that the water used to meet those needs is safe for drinking, handwashing and more.

After:
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, their 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 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 will 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 wall around the tank and first flush, as well as a tap stand located slightly downhill of the tank. The rainwater collection system will be paired with four Sawyer Point One water filters in order to ensure that all water collection from the tank will be safe for drinking.

Thanks to Centennial Middle School, MN for supporting this project!

Check out the impact!

Notes:
– Calculations are based on the number of 20 liter jerrycans used each day at this facility: 100 jerrycans
– One jerrycan per trip to original water source
– Distance is calculated for a round trip, using GPS, as the crow flies