Reliable and Clean Water Supply for Orkeeswa Secondary School
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.
Water Resources Overview
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.
Water at Orkeeswa Secondary School
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.
Site Assessment
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.
Design
The team worked on a design of the first 60,000-liter ferrocement tank through the summer of 2009 and coordinated the construction schedule and budget with a contractor selected during the assessment trip.
Team members also spent the spring and summer on various fundraising efforts, ranging from applying for corporate grants through their employers and other engineering companies to organizing several fundraising events.
Implementation
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, provide operation and maintenance training, identify the priorities and assess the options for the next phases of the project. EWB worked with a local contractor to construct an above-ground ferrocement reservoir, reconfigure the gutter system and install and conveyance system. Tank construction was completed in late September, leaving enough time for the cement to cure before the onset of the rainy season.
Next Steps
The EWB Tanzania Team plans to return in June 2010 to construct a second tank in order to provide sufficient volume for the anticipated 2011 enrollment.
The Tanzanian government recently constructed a water pipeline from a groundwater aquifer near Mt. Meru all the way to the edge of Lashaine Village. EWB is working with IEFT to design a conveyance system that would tie into this line to provide a supplemental water source to Orkeeswa Secondary School, as well as nearby Orkeeswa Primary School, as droughts are expected to be more frequent due to climate change. IEFT obtained permission from the village government for this phase of the project and future project phases will include design of a treatment system capable of removing naturally-occurring fluoride in this water source, as well as a conveyance system to pump the water to the schools.
The team is planning a fundraising event on Sunday May 16 to raise funds for a second water tank for Orkeeswa Scondary School and tank construction will start in early June.
The team plans to spend the summer and fall of 2010 fundraising for and designing the next phase of the water project. There is much work to be done and fun to be had for both existing team members and anyone interested in joining the Tanzania Team!
Email tanzania [at] ewbportland [dot] org if you are interested in joining the team, sharing similar design/construction experiences or assisting with obtaining the funds necessary to complete this project.
The 2009 phase of the project was funded by Engineers Withough Borders, Portland Professionals and the following corporate sponsors:
