The journey to water – a personal tale from Kenya, Africa

Where can we get water? The pivotal role of water wells in Africa.

Venturing into the hinterlands of Kenya I embarked on a journey to understand the acute water poverty plaguing many communities. This exploration was not just a mere trip but an eye-opening experience into what it means when we say, “Water is life”.

Visiting a local school, I was confronted with the desperate need for water. The high number of absences due to water-related issues and the dire conditions spoke volumes about the urgency of our mission.

Traveling through the country, I witnessed the dichotomy of Kenya’s water scenario. On one hand, the breathtaking beauty of the land and, depending where you are, its streams; on the other, the grim reality of water scarcity. People drawing water from streams for daily use, children bathing in murky ponds, and a girl fetching water from a puddle inhabited by a leech. When asked if she considered the clean water, she nodded without hesitation. “Yes.” This sight was heart-wrenching.

Amidst the natural splendor of rivers and streams, the sight of people using this water for cooking, drinking and washing was alarming. The proximity of industrial pollution, such as a sugarcane factory discharging waste into the water, highlighted the severity of the situation.

The resilience of the communities, however, was inspiring. Despite the challenges, there was a sense of hope and determination to find solutions. The journey constantly raised one critical question: Where can we get safe water?

Exploring Solutions

If it rains, from time to time, one option is to catch the rain that falls onto the roof of your buildings, by adding a good guttering system, and some big storage tanks. You have to keep the roofs, gutters and tanks clean. The hurdle, however, is Kenya’s annual rainfall averages 680 mm, with its uneven distribution—from less than 250 mm in northern ASALs to about 2,000 mm in the west—posing significant water collection challenges.

“WellBoring installed a rainwater harvesting system in the giant slum of Kibera, where drilling conditions were very difficult, but it is disheartening to visit the school in the dry season, when the tanks run dry.” Nigel Linacre, chair of WellBoring explained during our journey.

The next level is to catch water at ground level. It’s easy but it’s unhealthy to the point of being dangerous. Ponds, rivers and streams all carry disease. Mountain streams can be an exception, but mostly it’s the fall back when nothing else is available.

The quest for safe water leads us underground, to the aquifers that lie beneath. If you’re in Europe, your water almost certainly comes out of the ground. These wells often extend down to depths of 60 meters, nearly 200 feet, tapping into a reliable source of water. Drilling for water presents a promising solution, tapping into the natural reservoirs that can sustain communities. The process, though challenging, holds the key to unlocking a reliable source of safe water in rural Africa. I’ve learned the most sustainable solution lies beneath our feet.

This journey was more than a mere visit; it was a profound learning experience that highlighted the complexities of water access in Kenya. It reinforced the importance of our work and the need to continue seeking and implementing solutions to ensure that every community has access to safe, clean water.

It has changed more than just my perspective. I now have a deeper understanding of what it means when they say ‘water is life.’ Without a doubt, it was a transformative, never-ending journey towards water and a desire to help make a difference.

Matthias Boch, WellBoring Germany e. V.

Transform lives