Report: Barangay Indatauan Artesian Well Development for Community Water Service

A Single Drop and UNYPAD create a community-based water organization (Water PODS) to design, install and maintain self-sustaining community water system for Northern Kabuntalan in the ARMM Provinces.

At first our target was to install free flowing well with at least 0.06 liters per second in a 2 meters elevation in order to have 3000 liter ferro-cement Tank.

The driller’s tried to install this kind of design for three times but it did not work. At first, the water flows after reaching the acquifer level but when we installed the pipe, it stopped flowing. The team decided to transfer locations and tried up to three times but still failed. In this case, the team agreed to change the driller. New driller is the one who installed all the free flowing wells at the municipality and nearby areas.

After the third trials, it was decided to install hand pump in the “bore hole 2” as temporary water source while we are in the process of drilling the final well. This hand pump was used by many of the people in proper Indatuan for domestic use because the Well 1 is not enough for all purposes. Due to this reason, it was decided not to remove the pump but instead a platform was constructed by the community.

At the fourth trial, water flow at 0.5m elevation with the flow rate of 0.07 liters per second. It didn’t reach the elevation of the FC tank top. The WSA suggested changing the design to installation of many free flowing wells. The possibility of this design both technical and budget wise was reviewed by Saidona, Saiden of ASDSW and Norodin of UNYPAD with the supervision of Noraida.

The team came to a decision to follow suggestion of the community. Design was 6-unit free flowing wells but if flowing well is not possible in the drilling point, it is agreed to convert immediately to hand pump. This was also in consideration of the efforts of the drillers who might also drill several times if no enough flowing water will be found.

As final output, installation of three (3) units free flowing wells and three (3) units hand pumps had been realized.

This was a capacity building and implementation project that ensures community ownership and creates demand from the start. A Single Drop for Safe Water conducted an holistic training program that created a local PODS (People Offering Deliverable Services) to assess their water and sanitation situation, design a technology and WASH Education strategy, implement a WASH technology solution and create a 3 year community strategic development plan.

The first phase of the program was conducting a WASH Orientation, Resource Inventory Mapping workshop. The PODS conducted a survey in the community to identify all the water, sanitation and hygiene practices currently being used in the community as well as mapping all the water and sanitation sources in the community. Collecting this information was key to compiling baseline data that would help them determine measurable outputs. This resulted in the creation of a WASH Situationer Map that was analyzed by the community with ASDSWs coaching. From that situationer map, the PODS created a vision, mission and strategic plan to resolve their community water issues.

Barangay Indatuan envisions for a God-fearing and peaceful community where people benefit from an improved social services, livelihood programs, infrastructure and post harvest facilities for sustainable development.

This Barangay WASH Plan supports the Vision of the barangay especially on providing Improved Social Services. Meaningful provision of improved social services includes access to potable water, installation of proper sanitation facilities, and intensified advocacy on WASH which geared towards change of behavior aimed at having clean and safe community.

Indatuan PODS Mission:
To address the WASH needs through unity among local leaders, meaningful participation of stakeholders and acquiring needed basic technical skills in the provision of improved social services.

WASH Objectives and Results:
Within 3 years period:
1. At least 80% of HHs will have access to potable water using gender-lens programming;
2. 95% of water sources have tested;
3. At least 30 latrines have been constructed both public and private owned;
4. 50% of HHs are practicing waste segregation, reuse and recycling;
5. 80% of children and mothers are practicing proper personal hygiene; and
6. Intensified advocacy on proper animal herding through the promotion of responsible animal ownership.

Their first step towards community WASH provision was this project.

At first our target is to install free flowing well with at least 0.06 liters per second in a 2 meters elevation in order to have 3000 liter ferro-cement Tank.

The driller’s tried to install this kind of design for three times but it did not work. At first, the water flows after reaching the acquifer level but when we installed the pipe, it stopped flowing. The team decided to transfer locations and tried up to three times but still failed. In this case, the team agreed to change the driller. New driller is the one who installed all the free flowing wells at the municipality and nearby areas.

After the third trials, it was decided to install hand pump in the “bore hole 2” as temporary water source while we are in the process of drilling the final well. This hand pump was used by many of the people in proper Indatuan for domestic use because the Well 1 is not enough for all purposes. Due to this reason, it was decided not to remove the pump but instead a platform was constructed by the community.

At the fourth trial, water flow at 0.5m elevation with the flow rate of 0.07 liters per second. It didn’t reach the elevation of the FC tank top. The PODS suggested changing the design to installation of many free flowing wells. The possibility of this design both technical and budget wise was reviewed by Saidona, Saiden of ASDSW and Norodin of UNYPAD with the supervision of Noraida.

The team came to a decision to follow suggestion of the community. Design was 6-unit free flowing wells but if flowing well is not possible in the drilling point, it is agreed to convert immediately to hand pump. This was also in consideration of the efforts of the drillers who might also drill several times if no enough flowing water will be found.

As final output, installation of three (3) units free flowing wells and three (3) units hand pumps had been realized.

The implementation process for this project was developed over the previous 18 months as part of a larger multi municipality program. However some key changes were made, particularly in the mobilization of the Water and Sanitation Association or PODS. This resulted in a much more effective implementation process with a very high participation rate in comparison to the previous program.

This project was implemented by the community and coached by ASDSW and UNYPAD. The Municipal Local Government Unit formed a Task Force which now prioritizes Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. The barangay then formed a Water and Sanitation Association or PODS. These two bodies along with residents of the community implemented the program. As the project was implemented they extended the program to go from an original 5 wells to 7 wells, with the Water and Sanitation Association (PODS) mobiliising resources to purchase more pipes for the additional wells.