Water supply systems

Water Supply Systems - Countless villages and communities in rural areas of developing countries are currently in need of new local water supplies and the infrastructure that is associated with these systems to treat and distribute water. Through local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), many communities request help to create gravity flow, spring catchment systems in Central America, new wells and pump systems in Africa, and new rain catchment systems wherever there is sufficient rainfall.

Spring Catchment Systems - Basically, spring catchment systems require building a concrete box around a local water spring or other surface water source (to protect from future contamination), piping the water to a storage tank located at a higher elevation than the village, and distributing it to faucets located just outside individual home sites, or in some cases, centralized locations (when home sites are too spread out). Well Drilling - Well drilling projects often involve contracting with local well drilling companies and hiring them to drill and develop wells and install pumps. Deep wells (over 200 feet) are often the most expensive water supply infrastructure projects undertaken by Global Water (or any water-oriented organization). As much as possible, we try to connect with an NGO that owns a well drilling rig since they are often more economical than a for-profit company. Rain Catchment Systems

** - Rain harvesting systems consist of the following sub-systems:

1. catchment area (roof, hillside)

2. conveyance system (guttering, downspouts, piping)

3. pre-filtration (screen)

4. storage tank (above ground or below ground)

5. distribution (pump or gravity flow)

6. treatment (slow sand filtration, UV, chlorine)

Rainwater Harvesting is an excellent way to create a water supply system when there is sufficient rainfall in an area. A useful rule of thumb is - you can collect 600 gallons of water when 1 inch of rain falls on a 1,000 square foot surface (for example, a 33 foot x 33 foot roof).

Information relating to rain catchment systems has been received from the Save the Rain Organization.

Hand Pump Repairs - There are tens of thousands of hand pumps being used in the developing world since a hand pump is the simplest form of water pump to be installed on a well. Unfortunately, hand pumps are also notorious for needing repairs as all hand pump designs have components that require routine maintenance that realistically can't be done by most non-technical well users. Because of this, there is a continual need for repair of hand pumps, especially on the African continent. Latrines-The lack of adequate sanitation is a major reason why many existing water supplies in developing countries are so contaminated. Once introduced into a water source as a result of inadequate sanitary facilities, protozoan, bacterial and viral microorganisms can live in water supplies for very long periods of time. These microorganisms are often the primary cause of disease and sickness throughout rural areas of developing countries.

Global Water routinely funds the building of latrines to create proper sanitary facilities as a complement to installing a new water supply system. In addition, we also support hygiene and sanitation education wherever we support water supply projects.

These efforts (safe water, proper sanitation, hygiene education) are synergistic and go hand-in-hand to create a safe environment for rural populations. In particular, latrine facilities and hand-washing stations are constructed in the proximity pf schools and other children-oriented facilities. Hand-Washing Stations - Hand-washing facilities are needed at all schools in developing countries for the following reasons

1. Students can wash their hands in safe water after using latrines at school;

2. Students can brush their teeth in safe water at school;

3. Students can practice the hygiene education they learn at school; learning to wash hands after using latrines is practically useless if a school doesn't have a hand-washing facility so students can practice. Likewise, students must practice brushing teeth at school, as well, because many students attending rural schools in developing countries do not wash their hands nor brush their teeth at home; therefore, it must be practiced at school.

Laundry and Bathing Facilities -

Centralized laundry and bathing facilities are routinely needed throughout the developing world. If not provided, women, especially, are placed in harm's way as they try to clean clothes and bathe in streams and rivers.