Water and Education

Water and education are inseparable and interconnected. A school cannot function efficiently without a reliable water supply and students' learning abilities and attendance depend on the availability of clean water. EWB is partnering with IEFT to ensure that the staff and students of Orkeeswa Secondary School have a water supply system that is safe and dependable.

No surface water resources (i.e., rivers, streams, lakes) are present in or around Lashaine Village. Per subsurface surveys completed by the Tanzanian government, no groundwater aquifer has been found in the village, therefore well development is not a feasible option for supplying water for Orkeeswa Secondary School.

Villagers rely on rainwater that collects in large “watering holes” during the wet season to provide water for their households. Water becomes very scarce during the long dry season.

Until recently, rainwater was collected from the classroom roofs, stored in small prefabricated plastic tanks and boiled prior to use. The storage volume in the plastic tanks was insufficient to last through the dry season and for several months each year, water had to be trucked in from neighboring areas, diverting significant funds from the school budget.

Additionally, the water that was trucked in is known to contain naturally-occurring fluoride, at concentrations exceeding the maximum levels deemed safe for consumption, presenting serious health issues when consumed regularly.

A reliable and clean water supply was therefore identified as a priority and the first phase of the EWB project. Rainwater harvesting and storage was deemed as the most appropriate solution, due to the absence of groundwater or surface water sources.

The EWB Tanzania Team conducted a site assessment in April/May of 2009, completing a topographical survey of the site, evaluating local building practices and the availability and costs of building materials, and meeting with local contractors with experience in water tank construction.

By August 2009, the team had completed the design and secured a budget to construct the first 60,000-liter rainwater storage tank. Three team members traveled to Orkeeswa Secondary School in September 2009 to oversee the construction of the tank, educate Orkeeswa students about water contamination and rainwater harvesting and provide operation and maintenance training.

EWB worked with a local contractor to construct an above-ground ferrocement reservoir, reconfigure the gutter system and install and conveyance system. Construction of the first tank was completed in late September, leaving enough time for the cement to cure before the onset of the rainy season.

Orkeeswa campus expanded in early 2010 with the addition of a new classroom block and science laboratory and more roof space became available for harvesting rainwater. EWB returned to Tanzania in June 2010 to construct a secont 60,000-liter tank. The trip also included installation of a solar energy system at Orkeeswa.

The 2009 phase of the project was funded by Engineers Withough Borders, Portland Professionals and the following corporate sponsors:

ASANTE SANA (THANK YOU VERY MUCH)!!!