| | | | | IN ei seul Gil OT) _, SS 7 Wheres ea CBU BNC! Rainwater Harvesting Constructing a cistern and gutter system using village technology and materials (English/KiSwahili) RPCV Luis CamilliTable of Contents Yaliyomo na Kurasa Introduction Step One: Foundation 1 Hatua la kwanza: Msingi Step Two: Making the form 4 Hatua la pili: Kutengeneza dezaini yake (mcheduara) Step Three: Plastering the first coat 6 Hatua la tatu: Kupaka koti la kwanza Step Four: Reinforcement and the second coat 8 Hatua la nne: Kuweka wiya na koti la pili Step Five: Making a Lid 10 Hatua la tano: Kutengeneza Mfuniko Step Six: Waterproofing the Tank u Hatua la sita: Kupiga Niru Step Seven: Installing rain gutters 14 Hatua la saba: Kutengeneza magutta (mabati kusanya maji) Sample Budget for one 4,000 liter tank and 22 meter gutter 18 Makadirio na vifaa kwa tenki moja lita 4,000 na magutta meta 22 Tool List 19 Vyombo Labor Contract example 20 Mfano ya Mkataba wa kazi ya ufundi Acknowledgements a Ushukuru Cover, text, photographs and translation by Luis Camilli, 2000Often in arid zegions of Africa, one of the major concerns of a villag water supply. This is certainly the case of Masakta, a small, rural village in north ¢ is a potable central Tanzania where I served as a US Peace Corps volunteer. Surface water is sqmetimes available; but becomes scarce in the dry season between june and October when the water fables receed and seasonal pools dry up. Additionally, primary water sources are far from the village and some contain high levels of Fluoride which are known to cause birth defects, osteofluorosis (bone deformities), and severe dental problems (dental fluorosis). Animal feces and surface runoff from surrounding areas often contaminate shallow ground water wells which exist not more than 2 meters below the surtace, There are periodic cholera outbreaks, especially during heavy rains Other gastrointestinal disorders caused by various amoebas and bacterias are very common. A deep well was drilled in the village in 1979 with the help of an international aid organization, however the large diesel pump broke two years later, and the village had neither the ‘money, nor the’ expertise tO repair it.” Furthermore, the cost, and ansportation of fuel for the pump was, prohibitively expensive for @ community of subsistence farmers. The village returned to using hand dug shallow wells. This was the situation when I moved to Masakta. 7 Consequently, 1 eagerly helped to survey and hand-drill 3, new borcholes (8-12 meters deep) “for manual foot pumps in 1999, I tested the water for pH, electroconductivity, and dissolved organic content using equipment lent to me by an area mission. ‘The water was highly aikaline and in some areas had a noisome odor. Also, the soil profile generally was not conducive to efficient filtration, Nonetheless, this became our new water source for the rest of the year. After a while, the salty’ tasting water, and the 3 km daily trek to the wells, became the major impetus for the search for an alternative water sourc ” ; en the rains came, all of the villagers, myself included, placed buckets outside to collect rainwater from our roofs. We all enjoyed drinking fresh water when. it was gvailable, however our five gallon buckets and Jerry cans proved to be the limiting factor. When searching for an alternative water storage method, I was inspired by a traditional, large basket design that I had seen farmers make to store grain. 1 had also encountered some locals who made clay vessels to hold water in their houses. What was needed was a larger more durable version of these technologies, coupled with an effective rainwater-harvesting system.