Safe Water for the "Other Half"

Congo, Hundreds of Kindergartners Died in Bus Crash

“Sometimes we focus so much on the big numbers, that we fail to see the human tragedies that underlie each statistic,” says Sanjay Wijesekera, global head of UNICEF’s water, sanitation and hygiene programme.
“If 90 school buses filled with kindergartners were to crash every day, with no survivors, the world would take notice. But this is precisely what happens every single day because of poor water, sanitation and hygiene.”

Almost 90 per cent of child deaths from diarrhoeal diseases are directly linked to contaminated water, lack of sanitation, or inadequate hygiene.
UNICEF child mortality data show that about half of under-five deaths occur in only five countries: India, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Pakistan and China.

http://www.unicef.org/media/media_68359.html

He Didn't Know It Was Water Day!

Today, I was planning to lay low on Water Day. Back in February, I had thought about holding an event for Water Day. But my water projects here in Congo were forced on hold due to various reasons.
This morning I received a SMS asking can I come to a church meeting to talk about my Bio Sand water filters project. I agree. And I didn't remember it was water day.
I spoke for a few minutes and gave a high level overview. Then I asked for questions. Two men held up their hands. I didn't recognize either of them.
Well, the first man started by saying that I came to his school about a year ago. He asked when I was I going to start my project as I had stated a year ago.
My only response and the response I gave was the pilot system was scheduled to be installed in a neighboring school before the summer.
I'm sure he didn't know today was Water Day. Because every day and every opportunity in Congo is Water Day!

Gentle Reminders

It's a commercial by Turbo Tax or Hewitt Jackson on the tv.
Or it's a picture from the head nurse at the maternity clinic where I need to finish the water well.
They are both gentle reminders to thing I must do. It's death, taxes, and clean water.

Where's the Water?

When to stop drilling is the key question. It's an art. Are you going to have enough water?
I went through an area at about 126-155 feet. But it was coarse sand. I wanted to reach the gravel zone. Now I'm at 235.
I'm not sure if it's a shale rock layer. It's hard and slow drilling. We had only 10 feet for a full day's work. I am hoping for what's beneath this shale rock layer.

Disastrous Start

The workers was scheduled to show up for work at 7am. They arrived at 8am.
Machines started at 8:40. And then I founded out it was not a time saver to leave the drill pipe in the hole. The hole was became clogged. So we had to remove pipe above the clog.
Mixed too much water to clean the clog. Now we are mixing more drilling solution to start drilling again.
No rain! But progressing not as planned. It's now almost 11 am.

For a lighter burden: competition for a better water container | WASH Technology

Here's a great idea or competition. But is it practical?
Those yellow jerry cans maybe actual pain and damaging. But they are readily available, cheap, and durable. Also, they are adaptable, stack-able and transportable by various means sick as carts, bikes, and vehicles.

So, I don't see them (a new innovation) be widely implemented.

http://washtech.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/for-a-lighter-burden-competition-for-a-better-water-container/

Still No Water

Our new drilling location is Kananga,Kasai Occidental,Democratic Republic of the Congo,22°23'52.81"E, 5°54'41.51"S.
We have been drilling for a day and a half but we have not found water. We are at 220 feet and in some type of rock. We going to drill with water this morning to see if the rock is water bearing.

Water and Sanitation Are Key to Saving Lives and Boosting Economic Growth

There is a link between health, education, and boosting economic growth (ending extreme poverty). The link is water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Improving access to WASH is the key.
”Improving access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene is a key step in preventing many of these needless deaths. Known collectively as WASH, these three basic services are important factors in preventing pneumonia and, diarrhea, the leading causes of mortality among children between one month and five years of age.

Every year, around 700,000 children die from diarrhea caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation -- that's almost 2,000 children a day. In addition, one-third of all cases of under-five mortality is attributed to undernutrition; 50 percent of undernutrition is attributed to unsafe water and poor sanitation, making WASH even more critical to tackle child mortality.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/david-winder/child-mortality_b_1884820.html

Water and Sanitation Are Key to Saving Lives and Boosting Economic Growth

There is a link between health, education, and boosting economic growth (ending extreme poverty). The link is water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Improving access to WASH is the key.
”Improving access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene is a key step in preventing many of these needless deaths. Known collectively as WASH, these three basic services are important factors in preventing pneumonia and, diarrhea, the leading causes of mortality among children between one month and five years of age.

Every year, around 700,000 children die from diarrhea caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation -- that's almost 2,000 children a day. In addition, one-third of all cases of under-five mortality is attributed to undernutrition; 50 percent of undernutrition is attributed to unsafe water and poor sanitation, making WASH even more critical to tackle child mortality.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/david-winder/child-mortality_b_1884820.html

Is Water the Same Everywhere?

Water is critical to health, education, and development. But it is more.
Back in the comfort (manageable) of our home in Kananga, we recalled an argument about water. One of our guys were verbally chastised for using water to wash his clothes. He was told that you were supposed to go to the river to wash your clothes. The river is seven kilometers (over four miles) away.

Understandably, the water he used was brought from the river. Water creates inequities.

http://m.startribune.com/?id=169684836

”If you solve Africa's water problem, you solve a lot of other problems.”