In late February 2020 our Rotary Club Sunshine Coast-Sechelt (BC) learned that the generator at the Ndandini borehole that was installed in 2010 was beginning to fail (not providing the required level of voltage to the pump motor). The service provider recommended that we look at replacing the diesel generator as soon as possible. His recommendation was that we consider installing a solar panel source of power.
Since late February, our Rotary Club and the Rotary Club Port Moody (BC), along with the Rotary Club of Machakos (Kenya) have been working on creating a major international project and starting fundraising. The project will address this future water supply problem and also include significant sanitation and hygiene items for the 8 schools in the Ndandini/Kyaithani area.
The project will:
1. replace the failing diesel generator at the Ndandini borehole (which was provided by a Rotary matching grant in 2010) with a solar panel source of power. The generator was submerged by a flood in 2018 and refurbished but is now not providing sufficient voltage output. The service provider has strongly recommended its replacement as soon as possible. Total failure would stop availability of the community's only source of potable water. Continued operation with under voltage output will lead to further pump failure (we have already had to recently replace a burned out pump motor). Below is a photo of the generator and an example of a replacement solar panel installation.
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| 2010 diesel generator |
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| potential solar array |
2. Provide hand-washing stations at all the 8 schools in the Ndandini area. There are none now at any of the schools. The Kenya government is indicating that all schools will require hand-washing stations in order to reopen after the current COVID shutdown. The hand-washing stations will require water (from the borehole) on an ongoing basis. Below is a photo of the hand-washing stations that Kenya Connect has installed at all its 55 schools and would provide for the Kyaithani Cluster schools as part of this project.
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| handwashing station |
3. Install composting toilets to replace current pit latrines at the 6 primary schools. The current state of pit latrines at all the schools is terrible. At 2 of the 6 schools there are no remaining usable toilets for any of the boys. The use of compost from the toilets will lead to the introduction of improved gardening at the schools by the parent support groups. Below is a photo of the Ndandini pit-toilet block, which is typical of those at other primary schools, and the composting toilet that would be inside each new compost toilet cubicle. Kenya Connect is currently installing composting toilets at several of their schools.
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| current toilet block |
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| new composting toilet |
4. If sufficient project funding can be provided, we would assist the parent support groups by providing some form of drip-irrigation equipment for the outdoor gardens at the school or possibly to also include a small drip-irrigation greenhouse. The proceeds from the school gardens will help support the parents working at the school gardens and provide funds to buy potable water for the school (for drinking, hand washing and use in drip-irrigation). Below is a photo of a possible outdoor drip-irrigation garden and a small greenhouse.
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| drip irrigation garden |
Except for the installation of the solar panels (which would be done by the local well service supplier), the project will be overseen (on the ground) by Kenya Connect. Kenya Connect has partnered with our Rotary Club on several major projects since 2015.
The current project budget is:
us$20k replacement of generator by solar panels
us$ 8k hand-washing stations for 8 schools
us$25k composting toilets at 6 primary schools (for teachers and girls and boys)
us$ 2k water tank at 1 new primary school
us$24k drip-irrigation for 6 primary school gardens (for parent support groups)
us$ 8k subsidized water delivery to 6 primary schools during implementation
us $ 3k project management and travel expense (for Kenya Connect and RC Machakos)
TOTAL project budget of us$90,000
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