From 2007-2008 KACCAD installed 21 spring wells throughout the Wakiso sub-county, displaying its commitment to, and competence in, water supply development.
The Need:
International SPHERE standards state that a person must live within 1.5 km of an improved or protected water source to classify as having access to clean water. In the KACCAD-served sub-counties of Nsangi (population 72,414) and Namayumba (population 26,250) approximately half the population does not have access to clean water. [2002 census]
Our Assignment:
Under the direction of the Wakiso District government, KACCAD has prioritized 42 communities in these sub-counties for spring well and hand-dug well development projects. Due to natural resources, Nsangi is suitable for spring wells, while hand-dug wells are more suited to Namayumba. The prioritised communities in Nsangi are in the Nasangi, Kyengera, Katereke, Buddo, Nabbingo, Kasenge, Kitemu, and Kikajjo parishes. In Namayumba, they are in the Bembe, Kyanuuna, Bukondo, Kyasa and Lutisi parishes. Each identified community consists of 500 to 800 households on average. Assuming an average family size of six people, each well could serve approximately 3,000 people.
Our philosophy and the importance of community mobilization:
If the community provides a portion of the human and economic resources for a project, the local people can gain a sense of ownership. Without this ownership, there is little community involvement in well maintenance and there is the danger of perpetuating a “hand-out” culture.
Requiring community input requires a community to understand the benefits of a project. Community members may not yet connect sickness to the water source and may therefore require further sensitisation/education.
Mobilising communities to contribute financially toward their wells also increases the number of communities we are able to help.
We do not support building bore wells since they are expensive and require minimal involvement from the community, resulting in minimal ownership.
Examples of maintenance which may be required:
- Vandalism - Barbed wire and poles used to protect the water source of the spring wells are often stolen
- Stops broken - Overflow and back-flow can break the walls of the spring water well outlet
- Hand-pumps - The handles and head of the hand pumps on hand-dug wells can break
- Pipes - Pipes can rust
Approximate Costs (USD):
- Spring well - $1,750
- Hand-dug well - $2,370
- Training a Water Committee - $90
- Well Maintenance $50 - $100 per year
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