Figure: Duke Underground water tank
Residents of DUKE village in Mandera, Kenya, have every reason to smile because of their increased access to fresh safe water, thanks to a water tank built by World Vision. Families used to trek for many kilometers in search of water before the tank was built. Duke is a water-stressed village 30 kilometers from Banisa town. Having no permanent source of water, the village relies on earth pans during normal times and water trucking during emergencies. Groundwater exploration has not yielded any other water sources over the years. Water scarcity has led to displacement, low school enrolment, conflict over water resources, and poor livestock health, among other serious problems.
“We had water challenges for a long time: we would trek for long distances in search of water – up to nine kilometers at times. Thanks to World Vision, we can now access water all the time’’, noted Mama Lisha, a beneficiary of the project. The project is managed by the Disaster Risk Reduction Committee of the village, with the aim of ensuring that the tank is well-managed and maintained.
Figure 2: World Vision conducted a community-owned vulnerability and capacity assessment exercise that brings together the community and other stakeholders
“The new 400,000 liters tank is a blessing for the community as they depended on water trucking before. The tank not only benefits Duke village but also its neighboring water-stressed areas as well”, said Muhamed, head of the DRR Committee.
“The water committee ensures the water facility is managed, maintained & utilized sustainably. The tank will increase access to water and improve household resilience in the long run”, added Muhamed. The water tank is also a big relief for animals who have a separate watering area which is also fenced to prevent damage and minimize contamination.
World Vision conducted a community-owned vulnerability and capacity assessment (COVACA) exercise, which brought together the community and other stakeholders to analyze existing disasters and come up with measures to mitigate them. It was during the COVACA exercise that participants came up with the innovative idea of rainwater harvesting.
The tank is an effective means to store water due to its ability to limit seepage and evaporation. The tank uses gravity to collect run-off surface water and a silt-trap system that stops debris from flowing into the main tank, thereby effectively storing the water for use during the dry season.