We are thrilled to announce that the Tumutumu Water Project is now complete! This marks a significant milestone for the Tumutumu community, located in Central Kenya, with a population of 2,621 people across 735 households.
The Challenge: Lack of Reliable Water Sources
Despite the community’s green landscape due to its Mediterranean climate and proximity to Mt. Kenya, access to clean and safe water has been a long-standing struggle. For years, community members have had to fetch water from a shallow well using donkeys, motorbikes, or by carrying jerrycans on their backs. For those buying water from vendors, a 20-liter jerrycan would cost Ksh. 30, and a typical household needed at least 5 jerrycans per day. The journey to fetch water would take over an hour just to fill one jerrycan.
Setting the Goal: Affordable Water Within Reach
Our 410 Bridge Water Program aims to ensure that every household has access to clean, safe, and affordable water within a 30-minute round trip. The Tumutumu Water Project has been a long-awaited solution that both the community and our partners have prayed for over the years. The initial plan was to supply water from the neighboring community of Karogoto’s borehole, but this faced numerous challenges.
Overcoming Obstacles: A New Approach
The original plan involved trenching and laying pipes from Karogoto to Tumutumu between 2015 and 2017. However, due to the geographical challenges—Tumutumu being on a hill and Karogoto in a valley—pumping water uphill was unsustainable due to the high electricity costs and insufficient borehole capacity to serve both communities.
In May 2022, the decision was made to drill a borehole within Tumutumu itself. Through a hydrological survey, Tumutumu Primary School was selected to host the borehole.
The community came together, providing land for storage tanks and water kiosks, digging trenches for piping, and even offering security for the water system.
Community Resilience: Overcoming Setbacks
At the onset of the project, the community faced a setback when electrical appliances were stolen, stalling the project temporarily. Undeterred, the community rallied together, installed a security system for the borehole, and employed security guards to watch over the project 24/7.
A Self-Sustaining Water System
Water is now pumped using solar energy to four 10,000-liter water tanks located at the highest point in the community and a 100,000-liter concrete water tank at Tumutumu Primary School. Once these tanks are full, water flows down through gravity to institutions connected to the system, households with piped water, and the three water kiosks situated at various points in the community.
Currently, 30 households have connected water to their homes, with more still registering for connections. Community members who have not yet connected to the system can buy water at the kiosks for Ksh. 5 per 20-liter jerrycan. The funds collected are deposited into a community bank account and will be used for maintenance, repairs, and future upgrades.
A Community-Led Initiative
Recently, the community came together for a beautiful thanksgiving ceremony to officially hand over the complete water project to the community.
The water system is now managed by the community’s Water Users Association, which is registered under Kenyan law and comprised of local community members. The 410 Bridge has built the capacity of these members to manage the water system and oversee the project’s finances on behalf of the entire community.
The Impact: Clean Water and Improved Living Standards
With access to clean, reliable, and affordable water, the Tumutumu community is now thriving. Community members have more time to engage in income-generating activities, leading to improved living standards. This project is a testament to the power of community collaboration and the impact of sustainable development.
We are grateful to everyone who contributed to making this project a reality and look forward to seeing how it transforms lives in Tumutumu for generations to come!
