"Water, Water, Everywhere, Nor Any Drop To Drink" (Part Two)

In my eleven months in Uganda there are many things I have grown accustomed to  -
(1) relentless sunshine, dust, rain, and mud
(2) constant presence of mosquitoes, cockroaches, beetles, rats, bats, and snakes 
(3) the steady African diet of matooke, posho, rice, and beans
(4) warm African beer
(5)  unbearable public transport – people/livestock sitting on your lap, women breastfeeding, children crying, people openly urinating/defecating, evangelicals preaching etc.
(6) using a pit latrine
(7) limited access to electricity/internet

However, I know I will never be accustomed to having very limited/no access to water. When I expressed this concern to my Ugandan neighbor she said, “it is the dry season, you first wait for the rain.. it will come.” The dry season has just started but we have not had rain in over a month. Without rain, the water sources quickly dry up and I am left without water. Life without water is as miserable as you would expect – life with limited water is no better.. I have learned how to bathe with two cups of water and how to wash with 4 cups of water. The four cups of water are used to wash dishes then clothes and then finally my floors. When water is running especially low, decisions have to made.. should I bathe today or wash the clothes I have been wearing for four days now?  Life is super rugged. With dry season just beginning, I can expect life to be this miserable for the next four months. In the meantime, all I can do is buy bottled water, pray for the rains to come, and in a act of total desperation - perform an African rain dance. Until next time..  

"Water, Water, Everywhere, Nor Any Drop To Drink"

In an effort to provide greater access to clean water throughout Uganda, my organization is working with the communities of Peace Corps Volunteers throughout the country to build rainwater-harvesting tanks. Before we build the tanks we need to assess the community’s sources of water, the community’s water needs, and estimate what percent of the water needs are currently being met by the existing water sources. The majority of Ugandans depend on open water sources (lakes, rivers, streams, etc.) for their water supply but these sources are not protected, animals have access to the water, and as a result the water is most likely contaminated. Diarrheal disease and death associated with diarrhea are prevalent throughout much of Uganda but we hope that through our work we can alleviate this problem. 

Why is safe water and sanitation important?

1. As of 2008, 40% of people in Sub-Saharan Africa did not have access to an improved water source and 69% of people in Sub-Saharan Africa did not have access to an improved sanitation facility

2.  88% of deaths associated with diarrhea are due to lack of access to sanitation facilities and safe drinking water

3. The impact of diarrheal disease on children under 15 years of age, is greater than the combined effect of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis

4. For each dollar invested in water and sanitation, eight dollars are returned in increased productivity

5. 443 million school days are lost each year due to water related diseases

These photos were taken during an assessment at a volunteer’s site just outside Queen Elizabeth National Park. 

Children fetching firewood

Community Water Source

Open Water Source

Children Gathering Water

Children Chasing Our Vehicle

Crater Lakes

 

Swamp - Open Water Source

Children Carrying Jerrycans Of Fetched Water - 1

Children Carrying Jerrycans Of Fetched Water - 2

Children Carrying Jerrycans Of Fetched Water - 3

Children Carrying Jerrycans Of Fetched Water - 1

 

Childrens' Water

Yellow Water

Women Carrying Matooke

Local Rainwater Harvesting Tank

Boarhole / Jerrycans

Boarhole

Open Water Source

Open Water Source

View of Queen Elizabeth National Park

The Cave