Rainwater Harvesting

Water is the Source of Life

Without water, what can be accomplished? Clean water is essential to health and nutrition, providing the foundation for progress. Before the Dream Village project, women and children walked approximately 4 hours per day to collect one jerry can of water, often dirty and polluted by nearby livestock.

The mountainous landscape of southwestern Uganda does not allow for drilling boreholes, the most common way of accessing water in rural Africa. In June 2021, Go Organic Africa (GOA) began working with the Buzaniro community to build rainwater harvesting systems for 60 of the community’s most vulnerable families. The rainwater harvesting systems capture rain from household roofs and divert it into large tanks. Each tank holds approximately 7,000 liters, enough water to sustain a family of six through the dry season.

GOA coordinated with Connect Africa Ministries to build biosand filters that clean the water and make it safe to drink straight from the tap. The water is cleaned by passing through layers of rocks, sand and biological material. The beneficiaries tell us that the water is “so sweet”!

What’s Water without Education?

When water is scarce, hand washing and other hygiene practices become a luxury, resulting in frequent illness. GOA is educating the community on water use and filtration, as well as good hygiene practices, especially hand washing.

GOA is also educating the community how to capture rainwater by building a series of ditches around their homes. This prevents top soil from washing away during heavy rains. Rains that are occurring more frequently and intensely with climate change.

Less Illness, More Time

By harvesting rainwater and cleaning it with biosand filters, families have year-round, easy access to clean, fresh drinking water, as well as the freedom to use more water to bathe and wash their hands, clothes and food.

No longer needing to fetch water, women have the opportunity to focus on more productive activities, such as caring for their children, growing nutritious food and generating income. Children who previously got up in the wee hours of the morning to fetch water can now attend school and do their homework more regularly.

The biosand filters eliminate the need to boil the water before drinking it. Less boiling, means fewer trees used for firewood, and less carbon emitted into the environment.

Track Record of Success

The 60 beneficiary families are thrilled with their new water systems and the impact has already been life changing. “When I heard an organization was going to help us get water, I couldn’t imagine it. I wanted to jump to the sky!”, said Peace, our project leader.

Families report improved hygiene, washing their hands and bathing more frequently. Peace says, “You can see the women and children are now all looking smart.” Mothers report less illness and several “have not taken any of my children to hospital since the new water system.” Beitese, a mother of seven, has expanded her small porridge business and is using her income to pay school fees. The local school reports that attendance has increased dramatically.

Many families have used the water to make mud bricks to repair, expand and build new homes. One family’s home was tilted to the side and ready to fall over. “It was going to kill us,” commented the husband. He used the water to build a sturdy new brick home. Their daughter now sleeps next to the biosand filter and enjoys a clean glass of water every morning!

The water harvesting systems have been so successful, we are now working with the community to build systems for 50 more vulnerable families. A team of trained leaders from the original group of 60 beneficiaries are teaching the next group of families how to build their water systems, empowering the community to keep progressing forward.