VHP >> projects >> water tanks
our work
Water Tanks Project
The Makerere University Institute of Public Health (MUIPH), located in the capitol city of Kampala, Uganda, has been an integral component in helping us to design a cost effective, easy to use, low maintenance solution to the problem of clean water. Dr. John Kakitahi, former diretor of MUIPH and current professor at Makerere University, has helped guide us through this process and has served as our key contact partner in Uganda. Due to the public health research at MUIPH, and with Dr. Kakitahi's help, we know that constructing rainwater collection tanks is the wisest first step in tackling this problem. To date, we have helped to build seven water tanks in the rural areas of Uganda. We have recently gained sufficient funding for 15 more tanks to be built soon. The need for water tanks is still great and we continually look for support and funding.
the need for water tanks
Most of the families that we work with gain their income from livestock farming and cultivation. As a consequence, the families must use their current water source for both themselves and their livestock. Most water sources previous to tank implementation are typically stagnant pools of water. An obvious problem results during the dry season when most of the water in these sources dries up and leaves the family with little water to work with. Also, because of its close proximity to the livestock, it is easy for the waste from the cows to seep into the water source, further contaminating it. As this is the only source nearby, however, the families have no other options for clean water.
design and construction of the tanks
The rainwater collection tanks were designed by Dr. Moses Kizza Musaazi, senior lecturer and engineer at Makerere Universtiy, with the help of his son, Paul Kimera. They designed and engineered an interlocking brick system that forms a solid, circular, water-tight structure made entirely out of materials found native to Uganda. Paul and his construction team make the bricks with a mixture of compacted sand, dirt, water, and cement, and allow them to dry and solidify before constructing the actual tank. Then, the bricks are placed together in Paul's interlocking fashion and surrounded by wire mesh and cement to strenthen the structure. The sites for tank building are placed near indivudual households. Families near the tank building site pay for half of the tank and Village Health Project funds the rest. Consequently, these families will then maintain the tanks because of their sense of ownership but have agreed to share the water with neighbors, since they did not pay the full price.
overview
Rainwater collection tanks were the first project implemented by Village Health Project. Through the Wisconsin Idea Fellowship granted to us by the Morgridge Center for Public Service, we have constructed four water collection tanks in the Lyantonde district in Uganda. The tanks provide a sanitary container to store fresh rainwater for the village members to use during the dry season.
note
The VHP website is currently undergoing an update and redesign. We appreciate your patience during this process. We hope you will check back with us soon!