Ten years ago, the Kenya Project at UMass Amherst was started. For the next ten years, students, faculty, and professional mentors helped establish a series of water sanitation projects in Namawanga, a rural community located in western Kenya. Starting with spring boxes, their work evolved into water sources such as rainwater catchment and well water. The breadth of their work spanned from simple water supply to more complicated water purification. Today, Namawanga has a wealth of water supply infrastructure providing them safe and reliable water- and the Kenya Project has made it their goal to work with another community to achieve the same results.
Having completed our long tenure with Namawanga, we have now begun work in the wonderful village of Nguluni, southeast of the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. Currently, this community is without a perennial water source. Already in our second year of engagement, significant progress has been made. In our first visit, we began investigating and implementing projects similar to those of our storied past in and around Nguluni. Taking community input into consideration, we helped conduct a hydrogeological survey to drill a borehole, which will provide a large portion of the community with a year-round supply of water. In an unexpected stroke of luck, the Kenyan government drilled where we had indicated we would later drill, accelerating the progress towards a constant water supply. In January 2017, we sent a team to install a pump into the borehole and assess the area around it for the implementation of a distribution system in the future. As of March 2017, the borehole was producing water and serving the community!
With a success already under our belts, we are eager to continue working with the members of the Nguluni community to expand their access to clean water infrastructure. Our goal for 2018 is to construct a distribution system to serve community gathering points such as the Nguluni Primary School, the Nguluni Secondary School, and the Mangala Dispensary, as well as educate the community on rainwater catchment system building, operation, and maintenance.
Having completed our long tenure with Namawanga, we have now begun work in the wonderful village of Nguluni, southeast of the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. Currently, this community is without a perennial water source. Already in our second year of engagement, significant progress has been made. In our first visit, we began investigating and implementing projects similar to those of our storied past in and around Nguluni. Taking community input into consideration, we helped conduct a hydrogeological survey to drill a borehole, which will provide a large portion of the community with a year-round supply of water. In an unexpected stroke of luck, the Kenyan government drilled where we had indicated we would later drill, accelerating the progress towards a constant water supply. In January 2017, we sent a team to install a pump into the borehole and assess the area around it for the implementation of a distribution system in the future. As of March 2017, the borehole was producing water and serving the community!
With a success already under our belts, we are eager to continue working with the members of the Nguluni community to expand their access to clean water infrastructure. Our goal for 2018 is to construct a distribution system to serve community gathering points such as the Nguluni Primary School, the Nguluni Secondary School, and the Mangala Dispensary, as well as educate the community on rainwater catchment system building, operation, and maintenance.
Ghana project log
February 5, 2019
- Split into groups
- The borehole group researched what needs to be done in addition to hydrofracking
- The distribution system group began planning for the distribution system that we hope to build in the future
- The data collection group brainstormed what else needs to be done when we travel in August, including water quality tests, health surveys, and presentations
January 29, 2019
- Heard from guest speaker Akshay Delity about the distribution system that the Kenya project built on their last trip
November 27, 2018
- Responded to comments on the Post-Trip Reports
- Researched pump tests and reached out to our in-country contacts about having a pump test done on the boreholes
- Continued work on the Alternatives Analysis Report
November 6, 2018
- Worked on Alternatives Analysis Report
April 10, 2018
-Project Meeting
April 7 - April 8, 2018
-Continued next phase of biosand filter construction.
-Purchased sand, gravel, a diffuser plate, and pipe cement.
-Performed a sieve analysis to check that the flow rate through the sand we purchased would be appropriate.
-Began sieving and cleaning sand and gravel, and left media outside to dry for at least 24 hours.
April 3, 2018
-Project Meeting
-Held an open group discussion about different diffuser plate designs for the biosand filters. The diffuser plate is responsible for controlling the flow of water into the biosand filter and protecting the biofilm once it forms on top of the sand.
-Many ideas were shared ranging from buckets to flat plates made of different potential materials such as metal, plastic or ceramic.
March 27, 2018
-Project Meeting
-Travel application has been opened!
-This week we worked a bit on completing clean water pamphlets for the trip. Additionally, we discussed and researched exactly what size sand should be used in the filter and how to create successful diffuser plate.
-The borehole rehabilitation group began to think about drafting the Pre-Assessment Report for that portion of the trip this summer.
March 25, 2018
-Began construction of biosand filter model here at school.
-Purchased filter body (large plastic outdoor trash can), 1" piping for filtered water, and pipe fittings.
-Worked mostly on sizing piping and drilling holes into the pipe that will sit at the bottom of the filter.
-Will continue next steps of construction in a few weeks.
March 20, 2018
-Project Meeting
-John Barber came to speak to the group. John is the Director of Ghana ACT, an NGO in the United States that we work with for help with project plans, traveling, and communication.
March 13, 2018
-No Project Meeting - Spring Break!
March 6, 2018
-Project Meeting
-Announced that we will be making a biosand filter here at school after Spring Break - will be a great learning opportunity
-Split into groups:
February 5, 2019
- Split into groups
- The borehole group researched what needs to be done in addition to hydrofracking
- The distribution system group began planning for the distribution system that we hope to build in the future
- The data collection group brainstormed what else needs to be done when we travel in August, including water quality tests, health surveys, and presentations
January 29, 2019
- Heard from guest speaker Akshay Delity about the distribution system that the Kenya project built on their last trip
November 27, 2018
- Responded to comments on the Post-Trip Reports
- Researched pump tests and reached out to our in-country contacts about having a pump test done on the boreholes
- Continued work on the Alternatives Analysis Report
November 6, 2018
- Worked on Alternatives Analysis Report
April 10, 2018
-Project Meeting
April 7 - April 8, 2018
-Continued next phase of biosand filter construction.
-Purchased sand, gravel, a diffuser plate, and pipe cement.
-Performed a sieve analysis to check that the flow rate through the sand we purchased would be appropriate.
-Began sieving and cleaning sand and gravel, and left media outside to dry for at least 24 hours.
April 3, 2018
-Project Meeting
-Held an open group discussion about different diffuser plate designs for the biosand filters. The diffuser plate is responsible for controlling the flow of water into the biosand filter and protecting the biofilm once it forms on top of the sand.
-Many ideas were shared ranging from buckets to flat plates made of different potential materials such as metal, plastic or ceramic.
March 27, 2018
-Project Meeting
-Travel application has been opened!
-This week we worked a bit on completing clean water pamphlets for the trip. Additionally, we discussed and researched exactly what size sand should be used in the filter and how to create successful diffuser plate.
-The borehole rehabilitation group began to think about drafting the Pre-Assessment Report for that portion of the trip this summer.
March 25, 2018
-Began construction of biosand filter model here at school.
-Purchased filter body (large plastic outdoor trash can), 1" piping for filtered water, and pipe fittings.
-Worked mostly on sizing piping and drilling holes into the pipe that will sit at the bottom of the filter.
-Will continue next steps of construction in a few weeks.
March 20, 2018
-Project Meeting
-John Barber came to speak to the group. John is the Director of Ghana ACT, an NGO in the United States that we work with for help with project plans, traveling, and communication.
March 13, 2018
-No Project Meeting - Spring Break!
March 6, 2018
-Project Meeting
-Announced that we will be making a biosand filter here at school after Spring Break - will be a great learning opportunity
-Split into groups:
- Biosand Education Team: Took a look at the community surveys we collected this summer when traveled to Saviefe-Deme. Members worked on collecting the demand of the community.
- Biosand Design Team: Researched more on the exact size of the sand and gravel particles in the filter and calculations for the discharge piping connected to the filter.
- Borehole Rehabilitation: Became familiar with the Pre-Assessment Report and began to organize different sections of the report.
Kenya Trip 2020
Ghana Trip 2019
Ghana Trip 2018
Sweat for Clean Water - 5K run and 3K walk 2017
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Kenya Trip 2017
Kenya Trip 2016
Ghana Trip 2016
Kenya Trip 2015
Ghana Trip 2015
5K 2014
Kenya Trip 2013
5K 2013
Kenya Trip 2012
Kenya Trip 2011
Auction 2011
5K 2011
Kenya Trip 2010
5K 2009