I should be writing about water, but... (Kampala bomb blasts)

I would love to say that all is as it was here in Kampala. I should be writing about the meetings I had with water officials, or even an entry about the rooster calls emanating from the kitchen of the restaurant I am in. But the news is the July 11th bombing during the World Cup match and the reality is Kampala has changed. It’s timid.

For the one-off visitor to Kampala the change would be unnoticeable, but the bars are quieter, the roadsides at night, a bit less active, and the talk is about how many people are choosing to stay home at night. Third-hand metal detectors have sprung up outside restaurants and all security guards seemed to have a metal wand (detector), that they rub over strategic parts of your body to detect coins. It’s for show really, I thought as they jabbed the wand against my leg assuming the detector has to actually touch the object in order for it to beep. I wonder, would they really jump to take down someone who just burst past them? But security is not much different at many places at home.

Don’t think for a minute, though, that Kampala is quiet. I still get stuck in monstrous traffic jams and see throws of people walking up and down the streets day and night, bopping in and out of road stalls. The welders are still welding, the traffic police still are policing and the motorcycle drivers are still eerily dangerous.

I went past the main bombing site, where many were killed. Although some foreigners were there that night, the crowd was far more local from what I hear. Most people I interact with seem to know someone who was there and have a story to tell, at least hearsay.

I try to keep a low profile. Hard to do really, but I shy away from crowded places, like markets and bus stations. Fortunately, they are not on my route. There are rumors of another attacks in such spots. In a sense, it is easier to be secure here by avoiding those places. But in New York, all places are those places.

We had a crude bomb attack in Times Square this year and threats on various subways always seem to be thwarted. But NYC is not alone in security fears, Madrid and London all had far larger attacks over the past few years and Istanbul -- where I was at for a day previously -- has had more numerous deadly attacks in recent years than those cities combined. The reality is that terrorism happens where I live and travel. But I am far more susceptible to the more mundane, the less hand-line grabbing car accident or bout of malaria. And to avoid those, I use cars, swallow Lariam and hope for the best.

Anatomy of a Borehole

What is a “borehole”?

Our friend and technical adviser, David Bell, has written a concise and easy-to-grasp explanation for all of you wondering “what exactly is a borehole? And how does it work?” Feel free to show off your new knowledge to friends at the next social gathering. Enjoy!
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FIGURE 1
Pump head assembly at top of well


Across Northern Uganda where ClearWater operates, borehole wells are the most reliable and secure source of clean water for people. These simple and inexpensive technologies have revolutionized the way people in developing countries access water.

Borehole wells allow people to tap into groundwater that is not accessible from the surface. as well as minimize the interaction of that water with surface pollutants by keeping it in a closed system until it reaches the tap.

Borehole hand pumps use human power and mechanical physics to move water in a one-way direction using a system of suction and discharge valves. The most common model of pump used in the region is the Mark II hand pump originally manufactured in India. A few of the major components of the Mark II are:

The Handle Assembly – This is a long lever, which is connected to a piston in the pump that draws water up to the tap. A longer hand lever can more efficiently draw water from a deeper well with fewer strokes.

The Water Tank Assembly – This houses many of the mechanical components of the well, including the pump-lever chain, upper connecting rods, and tap assembly.

Connecting Rods and Riser Pipe – These pieces usually come in 10 feet sections and are threaded with male and female ends to allow for variable well depths. Connecting rods are attached to the pump and drive the pistons, which draw water. Riser pipes are usually six-inch diameter pipes that convey water up to the tap.

Pump Cylinder – This is the main pump, which is set in the aquifer deep underground. The depth that a pump is set is based on the desired yield rates. A minimum yield of 1-2 cubic meters per hour is usually targeted. One cubic meter is equal to 264 gallons.


FIGURE 2
Pump cylinder at bottom of well

How boreholes break down:
Unfortunately hand pumps, like anything mechanical, tend to break down after improper use, neglect and just plain overuse. Long-term maintenance of rural water wells therefore has become the most challenging task for water aid groups. Which is why Clearwater contractors work with recipients to educate them to proper maintenance schedules.

Common mechanical well problems include:
• Broken handle assembly that is no longer properly connected to the chain and connecting rods
• Loose mechanical components in water tank assembly
• Loss of suction in the pump
• Riser pipes become corroded and dislodged
• Cracked pedestal and well riser, which can create unsanitary conditions inside the well

How boreholes can be maintained:
Ideally a well is regularly checked and maintained by a trained pump operator, whose duties are to make sure major breakdowns do not occur, which could severely interrupt service.

A typical schedule of maintenance could involve the following:

Daily
Monitor pump operation
Maintain pump and area cleanliness
Maintain drainage of wastewater
Educate users on proper pump use and receive comments

Weekly
Lubricate moving parts
Check tightness of nuts and bolts
Check security of pump on pedestal

Monthly
Check output rate
Check for condition of concrete apron

Yearly
Raise pump cylinder from well for inspection and replace parts where necessary
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Daily Life in pictures

We are taking a few days to organize and regroup from the wealth of valuable field research which has come in over the past 2 months in Uganda. We have lots of thoughts and experiences yet to share from this time. We're taking a short break to process things. In the mean time, I'd like to offer up a selection of photos showing daily life in Uganda. Please enjoy. - Jake

(from top: shoeshine stand; hair saloon [sic]; Welsy playing in the grass,; Prosyi at home; our friends Julius and Bernard on motorcycle; Lillian at market selling coal; child bathing; children inside a kitchen; restaurant menu; child in window)

Fitting within the plan

One of our main concerns while working out here is to coordinate with local authorities. Some NGOs, derisively called briefcase NGOs, go out to the field and bypass district governments. They implement programs only with the villages. We feel that working within the regional government plan, as they seek to increase the percentage of citizens who have access to clean water, is important. It increases liklihood of success. After all, the project is owned by the village and should be supported by the local government.

Coordinating with the government also helps us ensure we do not construct projects in areas where the government or other NGOs are planning to build. The Ugandan government's goal is to ensure that each citizen is no more than one kilometer away from a fresh water source and has to share that point with no more than 300 others. And we are still a long way away from attaining it.

We still conduct our own research: identifing needs and picking villages and regions that are in need and can support our projects. But a collaborative effort provides the greatest chance for sustainable projects.

Air France, the first flight...

Flights to Africa are rarely direct. Sure, South African Airlines flies non-stop to Johannesburg, Egypt Air to Cairo, and even Delta straight to Accra, Ghana. But many require two stops. Most three. My itinerary takes me to Paris; Nairobi, Kenya; and into Entebbe, Uganda, the former capital. It lies on the shores of Lake Victoria, the second largest body of fresh water in the world and is a 45-minute ride to the current capital of Uganda, Kampala.

The first of two 7-hour plus flights My Air France goes smoothly except for the frozen cous cous dinner and allows me time to continue reading on the recent water situation in Uganda, from rural infrastructure development to corruption, an all to common theme that permeates the country, even in the aid sector. As I have 22 hours of flight time I have a lot of time to read and ponder. But I am now thinking about how can I beat the impending jet-lag.

When I fly to Europe from the US, I usually leave at night. I try to sleep en route; it rarely works. To “beat” the jet-lag, I don’t sleep from the morning I arrive at my destination until at least 9pm. My general strategy is to stay up. It based on a simple notion: it’s easier to force consciousness than sleep. Even this summer as I journeyed 30-plus hours to Kyrgyzstan (coincidentally taking the same Berlin-Istanbul-Bishkek route that Ben took a month earlier to Afghanistan) I overcame the jet-lag relatively quickly, mostly by staying active.

My current flight poses new challenges. I arrive at 11:30 at night. And I fear a difficult jet-lag. I have no game plan for when to stay up and when to sleep.

The Ugandan Trip -- Your blogs goals

The Uganda trip blog is intended to be a mix of water, insight and culture, both Ugandan and American, as the latter is the lens of which we see others. Jake Herrle and I, your guides and ClearWater board members, hope to provoke thought, discussion and at least one “hmm” moment along the way. And maybe we can even impart some knowledge. Enjoy.