22 March 2024
100 rainwater tanks of 5000 liter each installed!
In collaboration with Sparkassenstiftung, the local co-operative bank and local savings groups, 100 households were supplied with water in a pilot project. More are to follow.
The six villages of the "Juru Cell" with a total of 7,000 inhabitants are located on a hill that is not reached by the public water supply. Particularly in the dry season, the residents have to walk to Lake Gashanga, five kilometres away, to carry water up the hill in 20-litre canisters. During the four-month dry season, this is a full-time job for one adult.
The national water company WASAC plans to put into operation drinking water points in 2027. Sustainable Villages Foundation has commissioned a survey for the construction of boreholes. However, the water is very deep and the sufficient size of the water veins was not assured.
The foundation has therefore now launched a program to collect rainwater. 5,000 liter tanks have been installed in 100 households. The water is used for domestic and irrigation purposes, and on an interim basis as drinking water until the public water points are built.
In close cooperation with the Sparkassenstiftung, the local co-operative bank (Umurenge SACCO) and local savings groups, an approach was developed in which a good half of the purchase price is covered by microfinancing from the co-operative bank. Households have to make a down payment and then pay twelve monthly instalments. The remaining amount comes as a subsidy from the foundation.
The 100 tanks were installed in time for the start of the dry season. Sparkassenstiftung will carry out an evaluation of the project. Based on the results, follow-up projects with larger quantities are planned.