Contaminated water kills. Water-borne diseases such as cholera, hepatitis, dysentery, ecoli, etc…are just a few of the diseases that are crippling the development of children and productive working class of adults. In the developing world, dirty water is the cause of up to 80% of diseases. There are an estimated 39 million people in Kenya; as many as 39% do not have access to clean water. That means there are over 15 million people who are drinking contaminated water. Woman and children walk miles each day to find water for their families, many times only bringing home two or three gallons.
KMO works with community leaders to develop sustainable forms of water procurement. KMO determines the needs of each community and once a plan is established utilizes a mix of technology to provide sustainable water.
KMO has built three mass storage tanks to date. These mass tanks are built in coordination with the local community. The tank is made of concrete with reinforced steel bars to support the structure. The construction times vary due to the weather and availability of materials. Construction takes approximately three to five months on Kenyan time. Each tank varies in size; however, one tank holds roughly 80,000 gallons of water. The tank is filled during the rainy season from an under ground spring. This type of tank serves roughly 3,000 people along with their cows, sheep, and goats. The tanks are maintained by local community members to check for any potential cracks or leaks. This method of storage last longer because it is placed in the ground and not exposed to the harsh conditions of the heat, which increases evaporation. The cost varies from $15,000 to $20,000 U.S.
KMO is currently working to provide several communities the opportunity to rely on ground water for a year round supply of water. The goal is to drill down to the water and build a pump house around the well. The benefit for the community is significant, as the water from a storage tank typically will run out before ground water is lost. The community leaders work with an engineer who evaluates the area and takes surveys to determine the best possible location where ground water will be found. Each hole can be anywhere from as shallow as 20 feet deep down to over 1,000 feet deep. The cost varies from $18,000 to $20,000 U.S.
In many communities KMO works to supply churches, healthcare facilities, and families with smaller, less costly water storage tanks. These plastic containers can vary in size from 15 gallons up to over 1,300 gallons of water. The tank is set up to collect rain- water and can last anywhere from a few days to several months depending on consumption and conservation methods.
