Rainwater Harvesting Helps Ease Drought Impact in East Africa:
Water is essential for life. Our bodies can’t function without it. Dehydration can happen from losing just four percent of total body water, and a person can die from losing 15 percent of their body water! Water also promotes life in numerous other ways. Without it, we couldn’t grow crops or support livestock. Water has advanced civilization, providing a means for travel for entire parts of the world and a power source for factories. It can exist as vapor so that it can be stored in the atmosphere and delivered as rain across the planet. Earth’s oceans also help regulate the planet’s climate, absorbing heat in the summer and releasing it. And the oceans serve as a home for countless plants and animals. Life cannot be sustained on earth without water, which is why the lack of water is our most significant global crisis.
The people living in East Africa have a firsthand account of what life is like when there’s a water shortage. Life in drought-ridden East Africa is like a real-life horror movie. The skeletal remains of livestock litter the parched landscape. Vegetation is almost non-existent. People who have lost everything to the drought endure long walks that can last for days and include violent encounters. When they arrive at a makeshift settlement for displaced people, they are thrust into a world filled with disease and more violence. It’s a drastic departure for those who once lived off the land in a society where wealth is determined by the size of a person’s herd and how much they had to share. Now they depend on the government and humanitarian aid organizations for food. It’s a desperate scenario, but not one without hope.
Rainwater Harvesting Tanks Offer Hope:
Using interlocking stabilized soil blocks (ISSB) — brick-like earthen blocks used in place of bricks in most construction applications — to construct rainwater tanks offers a sustainable solution to build water infrastructure. This method directly supports Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6), which aims for clean water and sanitation for all, by providing an innovative and sustainable way to collect and store rainwater. A rainwater harvest tank made using the ISSB method is stabilized by compression, cementation, and interlocks. The blocks have a high soil-to-cement ratio and are capable of bearing significant loads. Each tank is almost 10 inches thick, has steel wire mesh providing structural strength, and is seated on a reinforced concrete base, approximately a foot deep. These tanks have a 16,000-liter capacity, providing a significant resource to a community if a shallow water well dries up during the dry seasons of the year.
ISSB bricks, when reinforced with waterproof cement and metal material on both the interior and exterior, can last up to 25 years. This is far beyond the 5 to 10-year lifespan of plastic water tanks. The ISSB rainwater harvesting tank is a fully green technology, made with local labor, local materials, and serviced by local technicians. This technology also helps create jobs. The same skills used to make these tanks can be used to build small huts, homes, clinics, and office buildings.
In Buyende District, there is a village located 10 kilometers from Lake Kyoga. The villagers endure daily treks to the lake to fetch water, risking their lives in the process. The lake is infested with crocodiles, and the dangers are all too real. Recently, a villager went to the lake to fetch water. As he bent down to fill his container, a crocodile lunged at him, snapping off his hand in a brutal attack. Such harrowing incidents highlight the perilous journeys undertaken for water. The villagers in that community need more water wells, more RWHTs and more BSFs. All of them are afraid to go to Lake Kyoga to fetch water. But they often have to because of the shortage of water storage equipment, borehole wells and filters.
The introduction of rainwater harvesting tanks (RWHTs) in the village has provided some relief. These tanks store water collected off rooftops, reducing the need for villagers to make the dangerous trip to Lake Kyoga. However, the community needs more RWHTs and fresh wells to ensure a reliable water supply. Water that is not immediately drinkable can be filtered using Biosand Filters (BSF), providing a safer alternative for the community. RWHTs are an integral part of the solution to these life-threatening problems, demonstrating their vital role in improving safety and accessibility to clean water.
Economic Advantages:
ISSB technology is a more affordable way to construct rainwater tanks. Additionally, the use of ISSB is a green technology, significantly reducing carbon emissions associated with traditional brick-making processes and aligning with the global push towards sustainable construction methods. A rainwater harvesting tank made with an ISSB hand press is 17 percent less expensive than oven-fired brick water tanks and less expensive than plastic water tanks. The bricks cure at ambient temperatures and are weatherproof, so there is no need to plaster the building exterior. Due to its interlocking mechanism, very little cement is needed between block joints and wall construction. Reducing the amount of cement used lowers project costs. Each tank takes around 18 days to build, including brick making and cement curing time, keeping construction labor costs low. The tanks are easy to maintain, and if a crack happens, it can be repaired inexpensively.
Environmental Advantages:
ISSB technology provides an alternative to the commonly used fired brick, which currently is the cause of severe environmental degradation due to deforestation, and the destruction of wetlands. By promoting the use of ISSB, we contribute to environmental conservation efforts, a crucial aspect of sustainable living. Reducing the number of bricks consumed conserves acres of trees from being cut down and used for the firing process, generating more than 20 percent waste. Moreover, this green technology reduces the need to fire up oven kilns to bake bricks or use plastic tanks, both of which are not environmentally friendly. Fired bricks contribute to deforestation and air pollution, while plastic tanks add to non-biodegradable waste and require significant energy to produce.
Employment/Educational Advantages:
The construction method can increase local skills, creating a skilled labor force that’s an income-generating opportunity for local populations. It is easy to learn and can stimulate educational dialogue regarding environmental issues due to its nature. Incorporating ISSB training programs could further enhance local capacities and foster a deeper understanding of sustainable practices among communities. With the purchase of additional tools, laborers can start building square or round homes, small buildings, ecosan toilet buildings, and other small structures. The addition of basic welding skills enables a laborer to do an entire project, including welded window frames.
Safety Advantages:
Water shortages create an unsafe environment, especially for women, who shoulder the responsibility for water collection. Without access to nearby water, they must walk to distant sources, often far from their homes. This journey is fraught with dangers, including the threat of predators like lions and snakes, and the harrowing risk of sexual violence, such as rape and human trafficking, in isolated areas. Additionally, these women face potential attacks from bandits and risk severe health issues like heat stroke from prolonged exposure to harsh weather conditions. These dangers not only threaten their physical safety but also have severe psychological and social repercussions.
Implementing local rainwater harvesting tanks can significantly mitigate these risks. By providing a nearby source of clean water, these tanks reduce the need for long, dangerous treks. This simple solution enhances the safety and well-being of women, allowing them to avoid the perilous journeys and the associated threats. Rainwater harvesting tanks ensure that women and girls can access water more safely and efficiently, greatly improving their quality of life and community health.
You Can Make a Difference:
The Thirst Relief team and its partners are committed to working tirelessly to ensure that everyone has access to clean water and sanitation. Your support delivers clean water solutions where it’s needed most and helps alleviate the global water crisis.
Every dollar donated helps keep children healthy and safe, lifts families from poverty, and provides employment opportunities.
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