Water Project Main Page
Need:
Other matters:
Both of the systems I am familiar with operate in essentially the same manner, though there are a few distinctives to each.
System must be able to handle increases, up to at least 500 students + staff. It is difficult to tell where the growth will stop, so the more capable of expansion, the better.
Water is also needed for construction and agriculture. In fact, the construction and agricultural needs can sometimes exceed the human use needs
Items to note:
Wells: Dug/drilled Wells are not a practical option in this area…many have been attempted, none successfully. Quality of ground water is very poor. Drilling equipment available in the area is extremely limited, so relatively shallow drilled-wells and hand-dug wells are currently the only options, but the water they yield is not fit for consumption.
Lake Victoria: The shore of Lake Victoria is about 3000 feet from the school campus (about 3500' from the highest point of the campus). All successful water systems in this area rely on water from the Lake.
Security: Although personal security is not a major concern in this area, unsecured property and equipment is vulnerable and very likely to “disappear.” So, anything located 3000' from the school campus will be vulnerable to theft and that must be taken into consideration. If a pumping station and pump is placed at the shore, it must be VERY secure or else it WILL be stolen/vandalized. In is not clear in any of the photos, but no one lives in the area between the school and the water. The closer to the campus the equipment can be placed, the more secure it will be.
Power supply: Power is a major issue. The national power grid has reached the general area, but is not available in the immediate area where pumps would most easily be placed. Furthermore, it is costly, and usually very slow, to have additional power lines run. One plus, however, is that a kilowatt of electricity is going to be cheaper in Tanzania than in the U.S. Access to power must be taken into consideration as planning is done.
Because of the security issue and electricity issue, it seems logical that the nearer the pumping station can be to the school campus, the better. This, of course, complicates the engineering and logistics of the project.
Distribution points: Basic distribution lines and plumbing are in place in the buildings and homes, because a small water system is being used.
Jet pump: I have had hopes that jet pump technology might hold promise to allow a pump to be placed closer to the school, and thereby resolve some of the security and power supply problems. However, after speaking to a couple of manufacturers, it appears that technology would not be suitable because it is not practical to use it if water must be moved more than 300' of horizontal distance. One manufacturer, however, seemed to have an especially good understanding of our needs, and suggested that jet pump technology might be ideal be ideal if we can resolve some of the security and electrical concerns, and place a pump at the lake, or get water to a spot near the campus to pump up the hill to a storage tank.
Solar/wind: The sun is usually very strong, and there is virtually always a brisk breeze in this area…the closer to the water you get, the more stiff the breeze. So, either wind or solar could be an option. However, the initial expense of either, and the possible vulnerability of the equipment to theft, could make them both less attractive. More exploration may need to be done here.
Existing Water Systems in the Area:
I am somewhat familiar with two systems in our immediate area, in similar situations to ours. I am also in regular communication with a Canadian man who has lived/worked in the area, and has intimate familiarity with one of those systems since he maintained it for a full year. He knows and cares about the school, and in interested in the work of the school. We have discussed some of the issues surrounding a water system. He is an engineer, and is knowledgeable about the environment and situation. So he is a good resource, and can help answer questions I cannot answer.
Water is then distributed from the tank to the various distribution points.
This is, of course, a very basic and straightforward system, and generally works well. Replicating this model would seem the most logical and straightforward way to deal with the problem. It is the way we would prefer to do it, all things being equal.
However, the issues of security and power supply present significant challenges…for those systems as well as for ours. Both of those systems have, from time-to-time, struggled greatly with theft and power problems. If there is no way to avoid replicating those systems, then that is what we will need to do. However, we at least want to explore all the potential options which may exist for viable, cost effective alternatives.