SAFE WATER
RAINWATER HARVESTING PROJECT
We work around the year to ensure that our partner communities have access to safe water -- such a basic resource that supports health and prevents a range of diseases. Most of all, our rainwater harvesting project has helped bring clean water to our partner communities on a large scale. We designed the project in response to findings that access to safe drinking water was one of the most pressing needs in southwestern Uganda. Local community members have played integral roles in conceptualizing the initiative.
The RH project has consisted of two components:
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the construction of rainwater harvesting tanks
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a water, sanitation, and hygiene (WSH) education campaign.
Through the program, we have constructed 76 ferrocement rainwater harvesting tanks at public buildings throughout our partner communities, ensuring clean water, for the first time, at places such as health facilities. Each tank has a capacity of 20,000 liters and provides safe water to community members. In each village where a tank is constructed, a committee of community members is elected to establish guidelines for water usage as well as oversee the maintenance of the tank.
The second component of the rainwater harvesting project has been a water, sanitation, and hygiene education campaign, carried out by the team of Village Health Team members trained by PHP. Through this effort, we disseminated information to both adults and children at three targeted locations: primary schools, public locations throughout our partner villages, and tank opening ceremonies. We designed educational posters to be displayed in locations such as kitchens, sanitation facilities, and primary schools.
To accurately assess the effects of our RH project, PHP worked in partnership with the Duke Global Health Institute to conduct an impact evaluation of public rainwater harvesting.
