Rainwater Collection System Complete
February 3, 2022
BEFORE:
On any typical day in the school year, 800 students and teachers arrive at Mitala Maria Primary School for a full day of lessons, play time, and exams without any source of clean drinking water within their reach. Despite there being two rainwater collection systems near the school grounds, students and staff are only permitted to use the lesser of the two systems, which was poorly constructed in the 1990’s and now has substantial leaks. For a period of time, the school also attempted to meet the water needs of its many students by connecting the school to the piped national water system, but quickly found the high cost to be far too heavy of a financial burden. With no other viable option in sight, the school’s young children are forced to cross roadways and walk for nearly a mile through dangerous bush to a protected spring box, where the water is of poor quality. To provide relief for these significant health and safety challenges facing Mitala Maria Primary School’s 800 students and staff, we want to provide a critical investment in their water supply through the installation of a rainwater collection system.
Thank you to the following for bringing safe water to Mitala Maria Primary School, Uganda!
On any typical day in the school year, 800 students and teachers arrive at Mitala Maria Primary School for a full day of lessons, play time, and exams without any source of clean drinking water within their reach. Despite there being two rainwater collection systems near the school grounds, students and staff are only permitted to use the lesser of the two systems, which was poorly constructed in the 1990’s and now has substantial leaks. For a period of time, the school also attempted to meet the water needs of its many students by connecting the school to the piped national water system, but quickly found the high cost to be far too heavy of a financial burden. With no other viable option in sight, the school’s young children are forced to cross roadways and walk for nearly a mile through dangerous bush to a protected spring box, where the water is of poor quality. To provide relief for these significant health and safety challenges facing Mitala Maria Primary School’s 800 students and staff, we want to provide a critical investment in their water supply through the installation of a rainwater collection system.
Thank you to the following for bringing safe water to Mitala Maria Primary School, Uganda!
- Alexandria Young Environmental Activists, VA
- D.M Therrell High School, GA
- First Avenue Middle School, CA
- Greenhills School, MI
- Stacy Lamb, WA
Check out your impact!
- You brought clean water to 800 people
- You eliminated 14.67 miles of walking per day
- You reduced collection time by 35.00 hours per day
- You replaced Piped into yard/plot with a Rainwater Catchment System
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
DETAILS:
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 and 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 could attach 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 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 four Sawyer Point One water filters in order to ensure that all water collection from the tank will be safe for drinking.
DETAILS:
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 and 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 could attach 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 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 four Sawyer Point One water filters in order to ensure that all water collection from the tank will be safe for drinking.
