Survey of Water Supply Madina Township

Transcription

1 Survey of Water Supply Madina Township Background The township of Madina has an approximate population of 4,000. There are also several surrounding villages, but this survey concentrated on only the township. I visit Madina once a year to support various health projects. One such project is the health clinic in the centre of Madina (and until just recently in 2 nearby villages). During my time working in these clinics, it soon became apparent that all was not well with the water supply to the town. This became evident by questioning patients who attended with gastro-enteric conditions and the correlation of their usage of untreated stream water. On questioning patients further, the usage of stream water was forced upon them due to the community pumps not working. The purpose of the water supply survey was to verify the facts and to present a report to a larger NGO or private company in the hope that assistance might be given to resolving any supply issues. The 2 areas that I was most interested in surveying were the 10 community wells and the gravity water system, which has not functioned since the civil war. (There is a separate report of this system.) There are also 4 additional wells that have not been included in the survey as community use of these wells is prohibited. ( Hospital, Police station, MODU school, RC school). The 10 community wells are thought to serve a population of approximately 2500 whilst the remainder of people have their own private wells. Example of Private Rope and Bucket Well The total number of wells should be sufficient (based on 250 people per well), however the location of the wells could and should have been better planned. It is likely that as the township expands, more wells will be required.

2 The surveys took place on Wed 30 th Jan and Thur 31 st Jan. I was accompanied by: Mr Mamby Bangura Mr Jacob S Conteh Pa Alimony Touray Boreh Kamara Representative of Xaverain Mission and HelpMadina Town Councillor Town Chief Caretaker of Gravity Pump System Well Technician Each of the community wells is listed with a current status report and a needs assessment to ensure full functionality. The needs assessment will require a fuller inspection to ensure that the findings are correct. Summary of Findings At the time of inspection, 8 out of the 10 were currently functional in some capacity. Of those that were working, all had a caretaker and had restricted hours of working. Although there was a spirit of community ownership, there was no formal money collecting system to ensure sufficient funds for maintenance. All but 2 of the wells run dry during the months of April May. During these months, people go to the stream or swamp for their drinking water. This water is left to settle but no other treatment is applied prior to drinking. There is a marked increase in gastric-enteric conditions during these months, particularly in children. Example of stream or swamp water

3 Recommendations It is clear that the township of Madina faces some serious difficulties in relation to its water supply. These problems can however be overcome with collaboration of willing donor organisations and an engaged and active community. It is of my opinion that there is evidence of an engaged community prior to any donor involvement. Suggested actions to demonstrate this could include: The formation of a water committee overseen by the town council The continuation of a caretaker for each well The agreement by the community that payment for water is required A workable fee collection system The opening of a community bank account for the monies and demonstration of transparent accounting practice The introduction of byelaws as agreed by the community eg no animals near the wells, agreed opening times, no drawing well water for purposes other than drinking etc etc The HelpMadina charity will contact potential donor organisations in order to assist and accelerate the improvements in the water well supply to the Madina Township. This form of assistance may be financial, but also may be through visiting experts and water engineers. To assist the process, it is recommended that a local water engineer is engaged to independently assess the requirements for each well so that an accurate cost to the project can be applied.

4 Name of Well: Court Barrie 1 Date of Construction: 2008? Pump Type: India Mk 2 Non Functional (Currently using stream water) Jan - Jul Community and Court Additional depth of 3-5m + lining + pipe New cylinder head for pump Unit Cost (Leone) Quantity Sand Gravel Cement Iron Rods Roll of Building Wire Cylinder Head m Pipe Transport Cost Labour

5 Name of Well: Court Barrie 2 Date of Construction: 2009/10 ABC development (NGO) Pump Type: India Mk 2 Non Functional (for 6 months) Normally in May?? Court and community Increasing depth of 3-5m + pipe New cylinder head and chain Apron and drainage maintenance New cover Unit Cost (Leone) Quantity Sand Gravel Cement Iron Rods Roll of Building Wire Cylinder Head m Pipe Chain Transport Cost Labour

6 Name of Well: Market Well 1 Date of Construction: 2000 DIFID Pump Type: PB Mk 2 Functional but only with bucket and rope April - May Market Further depth of 3m + 12m of pipe New pump cylinder head Uint Cost (Leone) Quantity Sand Gravel Cement Iron Rods Roll of Building Wire Cylinder Head m Pipe Transport Cost Labour

7 Name of Well: Market Well 2 Date of Construction: 2003 DIFID Pump Type: PB Mk 2 Functional May and June, unlocked x2 per day Market and local community Additional depth of 2m + pipes Uint Cost (Leone) Quantity Sand Gravel Cement Iron Rods Roll of Building Wire m Pipe Transport Cost Labour

8 Name of Well: Old Feeding Centre Well Date of Construction: 2008 Pump Type: Xaverian Mission No Pump Non functional Not known No N/A N/A New Pump + 18m of pipe Unit Cost (Leone) Quantity Sand Gravel Cement New Pump Transport Cost Supervisor Cost Labour

9 Name of Well: Coal Farm Date of Construction: 2012 Cape Lambert Mining Corp Pump Type: India Mk 2 Functional May Open x2 per day Local community Increase depth by 2-3m + pipes Unit Cost (Leone) Quantity Sand Gravel Cement Iron Rods Roll of Building Wire m Pipe Transport Cost Labour

10 Name of Well: Mission Road Date of Construction: 2008 Pump Type: Xaverian Mission Soufan Int. Pump not working. Water drawn by rope Never Community New pump cylinder head and lever bearings Internal chain New cover Additional drainage and maintenance to apron Unit Cost (Leone) Quantity Sand Gravel Cement Iron Rods Roll of Building Wire Cylinder Head Chain Lever Bearing Transport Cost Supervisor Cost Labour

11 Name of Well: Kambia Road, Wesleyan School Date of Construction: 2007/2008 Orient (NGO) Pump Type: PB Mk 2 Functional May and June 2 caretakers, School and Community, x2 per day School and community New apron New slab Increase depth of 3m + pipes New head well (current is too small) Unit Cost (Leone) Quantity Sand Gravel Cement Iron Rods Roll of Building Wire m Pipe Transport Cost Labour

12 Name of Well: Kambia District Council School (KDC) Date of Construction: 2004 Pump Type: Sierra Leone Govt. Soufan Functional May (x2 per day) School and community Additional depth of 2-3m + pipes Apron maintenance Unit Cost (Leone) Quantity Sand Gravel Cement Iron Rods Roll of Building Wire m Pipe Transport Cost Labour

13 Name of Well: Mosque Well Date of Construction: 2012 Cape Lambert Mining Company Pump Type: PB Mk 2 Note: Functional Never (x2 per day Wed, Thurs,Fri) Mosque Nil Well may run dry if restrictions lifted TOTAL COST OF REPAIRING ALL WELLS = 7882 Dr Rohit Sethi Feb 2013