Water Resources

 

In 2008, Tandana was able to provide the funds needed to restore and deepen a well in Kansongho, Mali. This project is of utmost importance to the village's 800 residents, since their other two wells both dry up towards the end of the dry season. The well had collapsed and was unusable; often women had to walk great distances in search of water or use dirty sources, and shepherds had to refrain from watering their livestock. The village contributed cash to this project in addition to the unskilled labor and local materials and is thrilled to have completed the project. Now, residents have a nearby water source that they can count on year-round. The well also now has a clean, raised opening to keep pollutants out of the water and a basin for watering animals. In 2010, Tandana provided funds to repair and restore a second well in the village. An internal collapse had made it too dangerous to use, putting extra pressure on the other two wells. Now it is stabilized and strong. Kansongho men took turns assisting the skilled masons with the work. In 2012, residents, with help from a local contractor hired by Tandana, also improved and stabilized the oldest traditional well in their village. Now all three wells are secure water sources.

 Well Restoration in Sal-Dimi, Mali

The village of Sal-Dimi had two wells, both traditional, meaning they have been dug and maintained by hand. About every two years, the logs supporting the opening had to be replaced by new trees, which are becoming more and more scarce as the Dogon Plateau is deforested. During the rainy season, when the water is high, it erodes the mud and clay walls of the wells, leading to frequent collapses, which can be dangerous. Each year residents had to repair, stabilize, and rebuild the openings to both wells. They asked Tandana for help to permanently stabilize their wells, and we hired a local contractor to reinforce both wells with cement walls and create a raised opening for cleanliness. On the day that we announced that the first well would be restored, several elders were covering the well with thorny branches because a collapse had made it too dangerous to approach and draw water. Residents were thrilled with the news that it would be improved, and quickly mobilized the sand and gravel that would be needed for the reconstruction work. They also contributed the labor to assist the skilled masons, and several of the elders were so excited that they donated sheep to be roasted and feed all those who were working on the project. The second well has now also been stabilized and is safe to use.

 Well Restoration in Sal-Sombogou, Mali

   

The village of Sal-Sombogou has one main well near to its homes. It was dug by hand, with mud walls that were subject to collapse, and residents had to stand on wood, which had to be replaced annually while drawing water. The well, pictured above left, was dangerous, and not infrequently livestock were lost into it. The village sent a delegation to visit Tandana representatives while they were in nearby Sal-Dimi, asking for assistance in stabilizing and improving the well. Tandana hired a contractor who provided the skilled labor and non-local materials, while residents pitched in with labor, sand, gravel, and water or the construction project. Now, they have a secure and stable well, pictured above right, with a raised opening to keep debris and livestock from falling into the water. They also have a watering basin, where they can easily give water to their goats, sheep, and cattle. 

Well Restoration in Komberou, Mali

  

The community of Komberou in Mali needed upgrades to their well. They drilled it deeper to ensure access to water during the dry season and installed a secure cement lining. While working, they discovered that part of the wall had caved inside the well and it was getting dangerous. If this project wasn’t done, at some point it likely would have collapsed and people could have been hurt. After the work on the well was finished, the management committee received training and made rules to keep the well clean. The improved well has a clean raised opening with a cover and watering basins for livestock. A pulley was also added to facilitate drawing water.

New Well in Wana, Mali

 

As of May 2021 the well in Wana, Mali is now 13m deep. The community is looking forward to having reliable access to water. As of July, 2021 The Wana Well project is nearing completion. The Management Committee was elected and their training took place on June 22-23, 2021.

New Well in Sandiam, Mali

 

As of July 2021, the well in Sandiam is nearly complete! They have finished the cement lining and built the raised opening and watering basin for livestock.

New Well in Gongo Sinou, Mali

 

Work has been completed on the well in Gongo Sinou. It has been dug to the planned depth and has a clean, raised opening with watering basins. Herders are now ready to use the well water for their animals.

New Well in Ondogou Dah, Mali

 

 The well in Ondogou Dahhas been completed!

New Well in Annal, Mali

The well in Annal, made possible by Tandana supporters, has been completed.

Well Restoration In Bandiagara

With the support of Tandana donors, construction of the well for displaced families in Bandiagara proceeded steadily--and is now completed and officially inaugurated! The water in it is currently 2m 46cm deep. The contractor closed the well to treat the water until it was re-opened for the inauguration ceremony. The report we received from Bandiagara said,"The displaced families are full of joy, which they showed by dancing."

 Delivering Clean Water in Ecuador

In highland Ecuador, water is much more available, and priorities focus on delivering it to homes, purifying it, and protecting watersheds by planting trees. Potable water systems may serve one or several communities, and often need to be expanded as population grows. Some systems involve purification, while others do not, and improvements to purification methods are also a goal of some communities. Tandana has assisted in expanding the capacity, providing purification equipment, building a filtration tank, and general maintenance of several water systems, including the Panecillo Regional system, the La Banda system, and the Achupallas-Muenala-Huayrapungo system.  

 Panecillo Regional Potable Water System

    

 

Inguincho Potable Water System

 

 

Motilón Chupa has the advantage of a unique geographical location, in a warm microclimate created by a mountain basin. The warmth allows the community to cultivate a number of agricultural products that would be impossible to grow in the cold, high-altitude surroundings. Additionally, a plentiful stream of water cascades down the valley-side, and the entire community has ownership over this coveted water supply. The families could not benefit from the resource, however, without much hard work and investment. After years of taking daily turns, manually digging kilometers of trenches, and fundraising through a number of non-governmental organizations, Motilón sought Tandana's support for the final stages of installing an irrigation system. In 2018, as part of an Alternative Spring Break Program, 11 students and 1 university representative from Northeastern University in Boston spent a week in the indigenous community of Motilón Chupa. They worked together with community members to build a concrete water tank for the community's irrigation system. This storage tank breaks the water pressure as the water descends, allows for access to water even during the dry seasons, and allows distribution to multiple water lines. In 2019, Tandana volunteers also worked alongside community members to build a wall at the catchment site to increase the volume of water that can be collected for irrigation. In 2021 the final materials were donated to complete the major collection tank and the project was completed. You can see a video about the project here.

 Water Tower, Solar Pump, and Basins in Kansongho, Mali

 

Gasoline Pump and Basins in Kori-Maoundé, Mali

 

The students and teachers in Kori-Maoundé, Mali had been working hard in their school garden but found it was difficult to irrigate the vegetables and fruit trees from water sources outside the garden. First, they asked for help to build basins inside the garden, which would be gravity fed from the manual pump outside the garden. Then, they found that the pump did not provide sufficient water and frequently broke down, so they sought a gasoline-powered pump with hoses. With this pump they can bring water right where they need it.

Stock Ponds in Goundoly and Andjine, Mali

 

With Tandana's help, The Olouguelemo Environmental Association has created two stock ponds in Goundoly and Andjine, Mali. The ponds conserve rainwater for livestock, which also helps to keep the livestock out of the protected forest areas. The new stock ponds that the association constructed are full of water, and livestock are watering there. Residents of Andjine are also using the water for gardening vegetables, and in Goundoly they are using the water from one of the ponds to make bricks for construction. These ponds conserve water from the brief rainy season for use over many more months by herders, gardeners, and builders. 

Stone Contour Lines in Wadouba Township, Mali

 

The Olouguelemo Environmental Association supported a training session for representatives from 9 of its 19 member villages on the construction of stone contour lines for erosion prevention. A quick glance at the photos and it's clear how essential erosion prevention is for these farmers. During the training, they learned how to construct stone contour lines to protect and enhance the new stock pond in Goundoly Dogon. The village representatives then went home and taught the techniques they have learned to other farmers in their villages. They also received tools, so that they will all have the ability to continue to build stone contour lines to prevent erosion in their own fields. This work will conserve both soil and water and increase crop yields.

Reservoir in Moe-Leye, Mali

The reservoir will conserve water from the brief rainy season (which starts in June each year) for gardening and livestock in the dry season. After Tandana staff, the contractor, and village leaders met to mark out the exact location of the stone dam, residents quickly got to work, breaking the stones to be used in the construction.

Irrigation System in Yambiro, Ecuador

Residents of the community of Yambiro dream of having their own irrigation system in Ecuador. Each day that passes they are closer to achieving this dream. This system will aid in improving their agricultural productivity, providing a sustainable income for families, and enhancing the overall well-being of the community. Pipes have been laid which connect a water source to the new and massive water reservoir that has been constructed. From there, more pipes will connect this reservoir to individual homes and farms allowing access to irrigation water. This opens up a new possibility for community members to plant fruit trees or even construct pools to farm tilapia. The hope is that this irrigation water will open up income generating opportunities for the women's association that started this project and for other community members as well.