Meeting the Most Basic of Needs...
December 3, 2017
Chainpur Water Project
Many local volunteers and local contributions helped bring this project to fruition. Porters carry material for at least 35 to 45 minutes on a steep trail.
The aim of the Chainpur water project is to provide clean water to this community of the Nepalese Bajhang District by creating a more accessible and continuous water distribution system.
As waterborne diseases pose a serious threat to the rural inhabitants of Nepal, where many lives are taken by cholera, it is essential to provide easily accessible and safe water sources to these remote communities.
A collection chamber at the water source, as well as two reservoir tanks were constructed for this project; one is located near the source, and the other is closer to the centre of the distribution system. Pipelines connected to these reservoir tanks feed a series of “Tap Stands” spread throughout the community. The main water source, being located on a high ridge above the main village, allows the distribution system to rely entirely upon gravity to supply the community below.
Beyond facilitating access to clean water, one of the key elements of the project is to consistently regulate the availability of water throughout the day and seasons of the year, independently of the water source’s flow rate. The reservoir tanks avoid waste during low usage times and store excess water in order to fulfill the community’s needs during high demand times.
Each household in the community makes a nominal monthly payment to cover maintenance fees and the employment of a manager, who is assigned by the community and responsible for the well-functioning of the system. In addition to the manager, a Volunteer Water Committee helps to determine details regarding the schedule for water distribution towards each individual sector of the distribution grid.
The project, supported by the Bethany Baptist Church, is intended to serve 174 households, which translates to a population of roughly 900 individuals, including many small farms, and one school where 165 pupils attend.
As waterborne diseases pose a serious threat to the rural inhabitants of Nepal, where many lives are taken by cholera, it is essential to provide easily accessible and safe water sources to these remote communities.
A collection chamber at the water source, as well as two reservoir tanks were constructed for this project; one is located near the source, and the other is closer to the centre of the distribution system. Pipelines connected to these reservoir tanks feed a series of “Tap Stands” spread throughout the community. The main water source, being located on a high ridge above the main village, allows the distribution system to rely entirely upon gravity to supply the community below.
Beyond facilitating access to clean water, one of the key elements of the project is to consistently regulate the availability of water throughout the day and seasons of the year, independently of the water source’s flow rate. The reservoir tanks avoid waste during low usage times and store excess water in order to fulfill the community’s needs during high demand times.
Each household in the community makes a nominal monthly payment to cover maintenance fees and the employment of a manager, who is assigned by the community and responsible for the well-functioning of the system. In addition to the manager, a Volunteer Water Committee helps to determine details regarding the schedule for water distribution towards each individual sector of the distribution grid.
The project, supported by the Bethany Baptist Church, is intended to serve 174 households, which translates to a population of roughly 900 individuals, including many small farms, and one school where 165 pupils attend.
Sand and gravel must be trucked in – or in some cases, hauled in baskets on someone’s back from the last point accessible by truck, up or down to the location where concrete is required. Then, before manual mixing begins, the Sand must be screened to remove debris and soil and the gravel washed.
Any form of construction in remote areas of Nepal can be a challenging endeavour as all equipment, hardware, and materials must usually be sourced from a District HQ town or, in some cases, from the capital city Kathmandu. Transporting the products along Nepal’s perilous mountain roads requires time as 10 to 15 miles per hour can constitute speeding on certain access roads. Once the road ends, porters must usually manually carry the products to their designated construction site; in the case of this project, for at least another 35 to 45 minutes, on a steep trail. Every step of the process demands additional time and an enormous amount of manual labour.
