Report: D3W4: Lengusaka 1 Well

Funded by Marilyn & Jeffrey Katzenberg, The Samburu Project drilled and installed a shallow well equipped with a handpump in this community.

Community members, especially women and children, used to walk 8 km each way- now they only walk 500m. Water is used for cooking, washing and school children. Many people have started home gardens. They use extra time to gather firewood and sell it at the market (sometimes as charcoal).

The community agrees by contract to pay for maintenance costs. Each well committee collects approximately $250 per year for this purpose. In order to ensure well functionality and monitor its use, The Samburu Project spends approximately $160 per year per well. This comes from our general fund, which is maintained by individual donations.

The well has broken once because the rubber wore out. It also comes loose occasionally. It was fixed in less than a day.

Only men are trained to fix the well but it is also necessary to train some women. They have added a water bottle to the spout to direct the flow of water and have added a pipe to bring water to the washing area. They would like to add a bigger, permanent pipe.