Kukpehi is classified as one of the guinea worm infested communities in the Tolon Kumbugu District. The only source of water for the community is a dugout dam. The people fetch water directly from the pond. Animals as well also drink from the same source thus polluting the water

Clinical analysis of these water sources indicated that all the water sources are full of bacteria and the water has an odour and traces of iron. The distance to and from the village to the pond is about 2 km. The community members fetch the water in bowls and cover them with leaves to travel the distance. This pollutes the water places burden on women and children who fetch the water daily.

For sanitation, in the village is poor. There is no public or private toilet and the people ease themselves indiscriminately which poses a threat to human health. The village is littered with cow dung and human waste which increases the presence of houseflies in the area

Project Objective

The objective of the project to assist the people of Kukpehi to rehabilitate and maintain the dugout pond and to construct wells at the bank of the dam to produce clean water.

Project Rationale

The project has been designed to ensure the critical role of local communities in the provision of potable water, natural resource management, and biodiversity conservation in the Kukpehi. The Kukpehi dam serves five communities within the catchment area with a total population of 5,000. However, the success and long-term sustainability of conservation initiatives depend on support and acceptance of such interventions by the local communities. It is also clear that local people will only support conservation initiatives if they see concrete benefits and improvements to the quality of their lives.

PROJECT OUTPUTS/RESULTS

1. Community water and sanitation committee formed, trained, and empowered to educate, manage water systems and promote conservation, good hygiene around the water source.

2. Dugout dam de-silted and eight hand-dug wells rehabilitated to supply potable water all year round to serve 5,500 rural dwellers.

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES.

OUTPUT 1 Community water and sanitation committee formed, trained, and empowered to educate, manage water systems, and promote conservation and good hygiene around the water source.

Planned Activities:

1.1 Organize series of community education and awareness on water, health, hygiene, and environmental stewardship.
1.2 Form and train Community Water and Sanitation Committee
1.3 Organize special technical training for Community Water and Sanitation Committee in the operation and maintenance of water supply infrastructure, resource use, book-keeping and accounting, conflict identification, and management.
1.4 Facilitate health certification of rural water managers
1.5 Train the community members in water quality monitoring.

OUTPUT 2 Dugout dam de-silted and eight hand-dug wells rehabilitated to supply potable water all year round to serve 5,500 rural dwellers

Planned Activities

2.1 Mobilize local community members to weed around the dam site
2.2 Hire a buldozer to de-silt the dugout dam.
2.3 Construct two hand dug wells
2.4 Fit the wells with simple pumps and locally made filters
2.5 Conduct clinical analysis of water before and after treatment