To improve water supply, sanitation and hygiene practice establishment amongst the target communities in rural Ethiopia, and their empowerment to sustain these improvements.

The program operates in three regions; Southern, Amhara and Oromiya

Achievements of the program as at 2002

In 1986, the KHC water program was established under the development program.  Since then, the program has built over 900 water points in three regions (southern Ethiopia people Nations and Nationalities, Oromyia & Amhara regional states.)  It is estimated that over 650,000 people have access to safe water and improved sanitation facilities.

Collecting water from a Protected Spring.

Focuses on arid and semi-arid areas and those who do not have any other sources than seasonal rain.  Construction of rainwater harvesting water tank, an inlet from the tin roof, and outlet, drainage and overflow service pipe.

Water is piped to a tap-stand from a protected spring, bringing safe water closer to people's home.  This includes capping of the source, construction of reservoirs, laying of pipes and distribution networks..

1.3 Hand dug well

The construction of shallow wells carried out by human labor where the ground water is fairly close to the surface (10 -15m).  Fitting of Village Level Operation and Maintenance (VLOM) pumps.

2. Water Well Drilling

The KHC drills about 30 boreholes each year and installs hand pumps to supply communities with clean water.  Water levels vary across Ethiopia, and in some cases it may be necessary to drill to a depth of 100m in order to find water. 

If water is found, and testing proves it to be good to drink, the Water Department installs simple, strong hand pumps.  The community contributes to the project by providing labor, to prepare the site or guard equipment. 

After installation, people from the local community are trained and equipped with the necessary tools to carry out basic maintenance.  More severe breakdowns are dealt with by an area maintenance team, who have received more extensive training.  Each household contributes a small amount of money per month into a fund to pay the pump caretaker and help with the cost of spare parts.

               Before and After

As part of the installation of each new filter, the householders are trained in how to clean it and keep it working effectively.

4.Biological Sand filters  (BSF)

Bio-sand filters are an example of appropriate technology for situations where a borehole of spring source is not viable.  The devices are cheap to make, simple to maintain, and suitable for use where water flow is intermittent.  Water from the local source (e.g. a stream) can be poured into the filter when it is required, and is made safe by the biological and physical action of the filter.  As an added benefit, the filter also improves the color and taste of the water, making it more likely that householders will actually use it.

How it works.

Inside the filter is fine sand which is kept permanently covered with a 5cm layer of water.  This provides a good environment for a biological layer to form, and it is the organisms in this layer which remove most of the bacteria in any new water poured in to the filter, by consuming them.  Further filtration is provided by the sand itself.

The fine sand and biological layer are protected from above by a metal mesh diffuser plate, and the sand is kept from entering the outlet pipe by further layers of coarse sand and gravel at the bottom of the filter.