The Better Water Maker- Water Collection

It’s probably time for me to write about one of the main reasons I am here- clean water and the Better Water Maker. I could cover the topic for quite a while... 

Water here is collected in various ways. In some parts of town in Lengalenga and Gilgil, there is tap water, which is not really drinkable, as it is water that has been taken from any source possible and piped to homes and businesses. This water usually comes from rivers, dams, and roofing systems, and water collection tanks. In the country/bush, like where I am staying, people work to install their own tap systems if they can. The water comes out of the faucet, just as we are used to at home, but it is often brown and is not clean to drink or to use to brush your teeth, etc. I try not to think about the brown water while showering- the reality is that you’re not altogether clean when you finish! I supposed in the end, it doesn’t matter too much, as you are covered in a layer of dust within hours anyways!

People are fortunate if they have water collection tanks. There seem to be two different kinds of tanks- some made out of brick, others made out of dark black plastic. The idea here is that the rainwater will be collected inside them for drinking and cooking. The roofing and drainage systems on top of the houses are also created to drain water into the tanks. Most of the time, the rainwater is not treated; people just drink it. The dark color of the tanks keeps the sun from shining in and helping bacteria to grow. The tanks should be tested for contamination, but I don’t believe this happens too often.

Black plastic water collection tanks

A brick water collection tank

 In the schools, during the dry season, many kids just gather river water to drink. People working out in the fields and those who are close to the river tend to do this too. This, of course, includes animals (remember the large numbers of sheep, goats, and cows I previously mentioned?). I’ve tested the river water and it is full of bacteria and e. coli, but many people here don’t have other options. People who can afford to pay for clean water to be brought in large containers will do so during the dry season.

If able, people will try to treat their water with chlorine, by boiling it, and I’ve also learned of a white rock called alum that some use to help sediment gather at the bottom of a water vessel to clarify the water. We’ve tried to investigate the effects of the alum on the water, even visiting a water treatment plant here, but I can’t say that we’ve found any substantial information. I felt a bit like Erin Brockovich while at the treatment plant, as the man who worked there told us he did not have permission to share their information and ideas with us. He couldn’t tell us the amount of chlorine or alum they used, and wouldn’t let me take pictures- and this is a place supplying a town with water!

I should have taken a before picture too, but the alum helped the dirt settle in this bucket of river water in a test we conducted. Now, we need to learn to create solutions of alum and water that are most safe for drinking water.

Part of my work out here is education in the area of health, hygiene, and sanitation. The kids in the schools seem to know a lot of the information, but putting it into practice is a lot more difficult. The Better Water Maker purifies water, meaning it kills the e. coli and bacteria. Although you can’t see these “germs”, people seem to understand what they are. It does not, however, filter all particles from the water or clarify the water. We also have to teach about contaminating the purified water. A dirty cup, bowl, or bucket will automatically contaminate the water. This is the most difficult concept, not just for people to understand, but for people to follow, as they don’t all have the means to bring clean water vessels for water collection and consumption. We do a lot of teaching and demonstrations on all of these topics. 

Kids at Ngumo School collecting water from the tap (which pulls water from their tank)