Water & Wastewater Treatment

26 | august 2014 | WWt | www.wwtonline.co.uk the old source is now capped and protected from animal pollution as well as seasonal mudslides and flooding Project focus: Solar-powered pumping "This is a great example of a simple but workable, sustain- able and affordable system bringing clean water to rural com- munities" Fasil gebremeskel Wateraid Ethiopia project manager Fasil Gebremeskel said, "This is a great example of a simple but worka- ble, sustainable and affordable system bringing clean water and associated health benefits to rural communities in Ethiopia." To ensure the system works in the long term and the community con- tinue to have a regular supply of clean water, the Konso district Water, Mine and Energy Office have committed to regular water quality testing. Ten local women have also been taught plumb- ing and maintenance skills as part of a female-led Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Cooperative. The community have been supplied with a set of plumbing tools and a spare parts shop, and microenter- prise training has helped the WASH Cooperative set up local weaving and sanitary pad production businesses to pay for the upkeep of the system. Finding new ways to harness energy that is naturally available means families living in the Gellabo village no longer have to walk for hours to collect dirty water. They have a regular supply of safe water to drink, cook and wash with, and they can grow food and keep their cattle healthy. Following the initial invest- ment from WaterAid, the community now has a cost-effective, sustainable and ultimately life-changing solution to the water crisis they have faced for so long. • Perspectives: "There were challenges to the project from the beginning. For example, it was hard to find a source with enough water for the village. Luckily, a er more investigation, we discovered two more eyes in the spring we had identified making a total of five eyes releasing 0.3 litres of water every second. "Using solar power and the natural force of gravity, we were able to chan- nel the water to a collection tank, pump it up to a reservoir and then take it out to taps throughout the vil- lage and the local school. The soil and water conservation work carried out around the source ensures the spring does not run dry and isn't affected by mudslides; and the power of the sun and gravity are there to stay." Orkissa Orano, WASH Officer at Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Development and Social Services Commission "In scattered settlements like Gellabo where it is difficult to use hydroelectric power (which needs long distance transmission lines), solar power provides an ideal solu- tion. The solar panels can be located in one place and the maintenance and running cost of the system are manageable for the community. There is no need to transport and refill expensive fuels." Sileshi Gobena, Senior water supply officer, WaterAid Ethiopia and designer of the water supply system in Gellabo village. "Before the new water point was opened, I had to walk a long way to find water and then carry it back up the hill to bring it home. Even then it was polluted water. The donkeys urinate around the source and it made us ill. Now the water is so clean that nobody has been ill since the opening of the new water point. It's been two months and nobody at all has been sick. "The water is also so close to home that my daughters can have enough time to go to church and they never have to miss school because they are collecting water. I used to wake up worrying about how early I should leave to get water but now I can go to the taps at eight or nine in the morn- ing and I know there will be water. Tirfie Tikura, a mother in Gellabo village Local resident Tirfie Tikura says that since the project completed there have been no instances of water-related ill- ness in the village

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