A contribution from Martin Elwert in the category #Projects from 19 December 2019
For 3 years we have been working with our partners, Welthungerhilfe on clean drinking water for more than 37,100 people in Ethiopia. After our last update, a lot has happened. Come, we take you with us and show you how great the project has developed!
You have only 1 minute? Here is all the news at a glance:
- Two springs are developed, Homecha and Shaki spring
- In total there are 8 new water kiosks and 6 new water reservoirs with a volume of 100 m³ and 50 m³.
- Now pipes over a distance of 30 km follow, which lead the water from the Shaki spring to the distribution and collection points
- Installation of an electric pump to transport the water to higher communities.
- Instead of the planned 18,900 people, now more than 37,100 people in the region will have access to clean drinking water!
The WaSH project at a glance
WaSH stands for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. In Ethiopia, more than 60% of the population does not have adequate access to clean drinking water. By giving people access to clean drinking water, diseases can be prevented.
The project is divided into three components:
- Access to clean water 37,118 people
- Hygiene training in communities and schools
- Sanitation facilities for coffee cooperatives
Updates: What's new
The development of the first spring, the Homecha Spring, was already carried out in 2017. The water from the spring is supplied to 5 water kiosks, which are used by more than 7,200 people. In order to supply the kiosks with water on a permanent basis, three water reservoirs (1x 100 m³, 2x 50 m³) were built, which supply the kiosks over 14 km with pipelines. The water was previously completely gravity fed, so no electric pumps were needed to reach the communities valley. When we opened the first kiosks in 2017, we were not able to supply a school and health center located at a higher altitude. So we decided to add an electric pump to the water system – which turned out to be not as easy as it sounds.
Highlight: Because of the pump, two schools, the health center and three mosques now have clean drinking water!
It took several months, but now the pump is installed and working. Through this investment, we have not only been able to provide access to clean drinking water to the initial 7,200 people, but another 25,000 people! The number of planned water kiosks has also been increased. Instead of the planned five, nine water kiosks now help manage the distribution of drinking water.
It was particularly important to us that, in addition to the water kiosks, all schools and the health center receive separate access points to the supply system where the water is free. This is because at all other kiosks, the local people pay a small amount, so that in the event of maintenance, the costs can be borne by themselves.
Access to new spring: Shaki spring
The Shaki spring has been tapped for several months. It releases 3.5 liters of water per second. In comparison, the Homecha spring gives about 4 liters per second. The water is stored in water reservoirs (1x 100 m³ and 2x 50 m³). Our partner Welthungerhilfe has already built five kiosks to distribute the water, five more will follow. The 30 km long pipelines, which are necessary to lead the water from the spring to the reservoirs and further to the kiosks, are currently being laid.
The WaSH project continues and we will be there again next April. We will keep you posted on the progress!
We are incredibly proud of this development. All of this is only possible because of your coffee purchase. Because 1 € per kilogram of coffee sold goes to projects in the coffee countries, like the WaSH project.
You support this project with your coffee purchase
Martin Elwert
Martin ist seit 2010 Gründer und Geschäftsführer von Coffee Circle. Martin treibt die Vision des Unternehmens voran und ist für die Umsetzung unserer Projekte in den Anbauländern verantwortlich.