Improving water quality and service levels through testing new handpump riser pipes
In partnership with the Ugandan Ministry of Water and Environment, and thanks to support from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, we’ve successfully delivered a pilot scheme to install new plastic hand pump pipes in selected communities across Masindi – so transforming access to safe water for years to come.
Two years ago, when one of her students asked for permission to get some water, primary school teacher Kunihira Sauda would often wonder when they would return – or if they’d even be back that day at all.
Pupils were walking miles to find clean water for drinking and washing, and as a result, children – especially girls, who needed water to manage their periods safely – were regularly missing out on hours of learning.
Rusting pipes and poor-quality water
It wasn’t that the school didn’t have a water source at all – in fact, it had its own borehole on the school grounds.
Instead, the issue was one of poor water quality, caused by the borehole’s galvanized iron riser pipes. As these pipes corroded, metal deposits made their way into the water, causing it to turn brown and black, and impacting on its smell and taste.
Similar problems were reported across the entire Masindi district, with residents having no choice but to depend on dirty, unreliable water sources.
Worse still, the rusting pipes would often develop holes, causing the entire pump to break. Schools and communities were trapped in a cycle of costly, difficult repairs, needing large amounts of labour and expensive tools each time.
Building a new normal
In April 2019 we set out to transform access to water across Masindi, through through testing a new hand pump riser pipe configuration.
By replacing the old-style metal pipes with a new riser system made of UPVC plastic, we could remove the risk of water sources being contaminated by rust.
Importantly, the new system would be sustainable, low-cost, and easy to maintain – so empowering communities to take care of their water sources well into the future.
A model for the future: the Poldaw PVC riser system
Through its improved design and materials, the new Poldaw PVC riser system will improve reliability and reduce ongoing maintenance costs, without significantly increasing the cost of hardware.
Putting communities at the heart of our work
To make sure that the project is sustainable, it’s critical that we get buy-in from stakeholders at all levels – from local mechanics, right up to government ministries. From the outset, we made the planning process as inclusive as possible, bringing together local representatives with government officials.
Clean water communities can rely on
The pilot project has transformed water access and quality for all the communities involved. Water from the new system runs clean, and the pipes rarely break.
Empowering children to keep learning
Now, pupils are able to spend more time in the classroom, knowing that clean water is readily accessible whenever they need it. For girls like Sarah and Molly, who no longer have to spend hours each day walking to fetch water, the long-term impact on their education could be life-changing.
Keeping communities safe from COVID-19
The emergence of COVID-19 during the pilot phase highlighted the need for communities to have reliable access to clean water, essential in the fight against infection. Thanks to the new boreholes, people are better able to practise regular handwashing, protecting themselves and their families.
Scaling up sustainably: putting the pilot into practice across the region
After the success of the initial borehole installations, and at the request of local communities, we're expanding the project to around 100 new sites. We'll start within Masindi, so mechanics can easily share the skills they've gained. We'll then add a second district nearby, cascading knowledge throughout the area.
We know that community buy-in is essential to ensure the continued success of the project as we expand into more regions. That’s why we’re working to empower communities to take ownership and care of the new systems, ensuring their pumps remain clean, functional and reliable – even long after we’ve left Masindi.
