Kavunyalalo Water Catchment Project – Kenya

Location
Kavunyalalo (Waresa area), Magareni District, Coast Province, Kenya. Kavunyalalo is located 9 km from the newly created district capital of Magareni, Marafa.

Community Description
Kavunyalalo is a remote rural village of approximately 900 people. As in many parts of Kenya, women in the village must walk long distances to secure water for their families. In recent years, interior portions of the Coast Province have experienced severe drought.

During the drought, the people of a village 5 km away created an adapted sand dam/water catchment system that helped to both contain the rain, when it occurred, and to block the water running in a seasonal stream during the periods of heavier rain. This method was able to retain water for longer periods during a time when little water was available.

Recently the two rainy seasons have returned. The sand dam/water catchment system continues to be a water source for the people. Until recently, this remained the closest water source for the people of Kavunyalalo. The closest borehole is 9 km away.

In July 2009, the people of Kavunyalalo, led by a retired community health worker, begin to dig their own adapted sand dam/water catchment system to hold water from a seasonal stream and the rain. This site was chosen due to the natural pooling of water from these two sources.

Ninety people of Kavunyalalo participated in digging the interior portion and began digging sloping sides for excess water catchment before the short rains began. The dam contained water throughout the short rains, although a problem existed with the water seeping out of the far end of the dam to the place where the seasonal stream once continued.

The District Officer showed support for the project by providing gunia sacks (large grain sacks) to prevent seepage in the center portion of the sand dam/water catchment system. The sacks helped, but a slow seepage remains. The short rains have ceased and the group has finished digging the sloping sides of the system.

Project Description
This project is to improve the sand dam and water catchment system for Kavunyalalo. The primary center portion of the dam will be cemented to prevent seepage during the long rains, leading to the sustainability of the water supply.

Project funds will be used to purchase the materials, including regular cement, waterproof cement, bricks, sisal sacks, and polyethylene paper.

Project Impact
This will be the closest water source for 900 people and 1 of 2 water sources for 3000 people.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
DeAnne Turner

Comments
This project will provide a needed water source for a large number of people at a low cost. The project was developed and carried forward by the community and is functioning, albeit not to its full potential.

By improving the structure to properly contain the water, it becomes a fully-effective system that can remain standing over time. This is directly consistent with the Water Charity model, which values needed improvements to existing projects.

Dollar Amount of Project
$408.33

Donations Collected to Date
$408.33

Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has been fully funded, through the generosity of Alfred Graham, of Macon Georgia, USA, and others.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer DeAnne Turner of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by DeAnne and/or those of her counterpart PCVs in Kenya.

This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.