Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Project – Zomba, Malawi - Final Report

December 2022

In Phetembe Village, one of the completed borehole wells including a soak way

Introduction

Through this project, five impoverished and vulnerable rural communities of Traditional Authority Nkagula in Zomba District, Malawi benefited from WASH improvements and trainings.

The villages are Chidule, Libwalo, Phetembe, Khanda, and Samani, with an estimated 1,550 households (about 8,370 people).

The project is funded through the generous support of the Rotary Club of Downers Grove, Illinois, working through the Rotary Club of Blantyre and implemented by Villages in Partnership (VIP), an NGO operating in Malawi.

Background

Rural villages in the Zomba District suffer extreme poverty, high rates of preventable and treatable disease, and elevated risk of early death. Their access to clean water and improved sanitation is far more restricted than in urban areas. Improving access to clean water and sanitation is therefore critical to improving quality of life and health among these village beneficiaries.

All 1,550 households in the five villages of Chidule, Libwalo, Phetembe, Khanda, and Samani will benefit from the WASH elements and trainings delivered by this project. Beneficiaries include women, men, and children across these rural communities.

Rationale for proposed activities

The project helped prevent infections and diseases and allowed communities to access clean, safe water for good health. Rotary Club of Downers Grove, Blantyre Rotary Club, and Villages in Partnership are ideal partners to help communities meet their needs:

1. Deep roots and track record – Partners have long-standing presence in the region and a successful record of meeting similar needs in many other Zomba District villages.
2. Community-driven approach – Partners establish strong relationships with villages, solicit needs and priorities from the communities themselves, and combine local and external resources to meet those needs. This fosters a sense of ownership through village committees.
3. Commitment to sustainability – Sustainability is built in through training village committees on maintenance and repair of WASH elements, organizing villagers into water committees, and establishing monthly user fees to fund ongoing maintenance and repairs.

Key Partners In The Project

At the district and community levels, this project relied upon the participation of District Health Office staff for sanitation and hygiene, District Water Development Office staff for Water issues and BASEDA and Evidence Action staff partner NGOs working in Boreholes' maintenances and marketing and chlorination issues respectively in the same catchment area.

VIP/ Rotary partnership implemented its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Project to complement the government of Malawi's efforts to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Scope of work

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) elements implemented under the project include:

• Drilling five boreholes to provide access to clean water.
• Promotion of sanitary structures for good hygiene in communities.
• Providing hand-washing stations close to pit latrines in villages and at schools within the catchment area.
• Construction of two communal hand-washing stations.
• Setting up bamboo dish racks for drying clean dishes off the ground.
• Providing capacity-building trainings to borehole and water committees for maintenance and sustainability.

Identified community needs

During the assessment, communities identified the following priority needs:

1. Safe water through boreholes and, where possible, taps.
2. Permanent pit latrines with slabs.
3. Durable hand-washing facilities, including in schools.
4. Plastic toilet seats for disabled and elderly persons.
5. Improved bathrooms.
6. Separate changing-room pit latrines for girls in schools in the area during menstrual periods.

Assessment mapping exercise

Capturing the map

A shallow water source in the area where some people get water

The project sought to address this problem

Hydro survey in the five villages

After the identification of the contractor to conduct the hydro survey was done, the contractor was brought onsite from Blantyre. Two priority areas were identified based on earmarked potential areas in the five villages. A report of the activity was submitted by the assigned contractor and shared with Rotary Blantyre.

Borehole Drilling

In the final result, it was identified that Samani and Khanda villages would require mud drilling and the rest would require air drilling.

When the drilling process started in the Chidule and Phetembe Villages, we unfortunately experienced three dry holes, one in Phetembe and two in Chidule village.

After more research of such experience of water shortage, it was discovered that even the Muslim Agency had twice failed to drill boreholes in the same villages. Based on that information and the hydro survey, VIP decided to reposition.

After repositioning, Chidule, Phetembe, Samani and Libwalo villages had borehole wells waiting for civil works.

When the Hydro survey was engaged for the repositioning, it was noted that Khanda Village which needs mud drilling was supposed to be changed as well. Note that Samani and Khanda Villages are close to the Lake Chilwa and have dump soils.

Mud drilling at Samani Village

Monitoring and supervision visit to Samani Village

A women drawing water from a finished well

Residents, VIP staff and drillers dancing after they struck water in Chidule on the third attempt

Progress made in the project

The project achieved the following:

1. Community needs assessment conducted in the target villages.
2. Responses prepared for Global Grant questions and clarifications.
3. Mapping of the five identified project villages.
4. Identification of a hydro-survey contractor through IPC processes.
5. Hydro survey conducted in the five villages, each with two priority areas.
6. Hydro survey report submitted.
7. Identification of a borehole drilling contractor through IPC processes.
8. Drilling of five borehole wells.
9. Project mobilization meetings held at district and community levels.
10. Conduct CBM training to five borehole committees.
11. Provision of borehole starter pack tools to five borehole committees.
12. Conduct refresher training for six Area Mechanics.
13. Conduct trainings to five borehole committees in Data collection.

Sustainability

Suggestions to Sustain the WASH Initiative

Village water committees are established to oversee all operations. This includes the mechanics ongoing training, provide security of wells, pumps and handwashing stations and collecting monthly user fees. These fees are used to fund maintenance and repair of village equipment.

Rotary Team Monitoring Visit To Project

All of the five villages were visited by the Blantyre Rotary Team to learn how borehole water supply was done. Chiefs and borehole leaders were engaged to hear their feedback on the water supply. Beneficiaries are extremely happy and appreciate the reduced burden on distance to and from water sources.

Water quality testing report for boreholes drilled and constructed with support from Rotary/VIP Malawi in zomba district

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Below are the E. Coli test results of five (5) water samples collected from boreholes constructed with financial support from Rotary Club Blantyre, implemented by Villages in Partnership Malawi (VIP) in Zomba District. Water sampling of the five (5) boreholes was done on the 24^th^ of September 2022 by our water quality personnel under the guidance and supervision of personnel (Laston Kasimu -- Community Worker and Ernesto Makoka -- Coordinator) from Villages in Partnership Malawi. The villages were: Chidule, Libwalo, Phetembe, Samani and Khanda of TA Nkagula in the Zomba District.

2.0 METHODOLOGY

The laboratory analysis was done in accordance with Standards Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater (APHA-AWWA-WPCF) 23^rd^ Edition. Two (2) indicators of microbiological quality of drinking water, namely, Faecal (Thermotolerant) coliform and Faecal streptococcus type of bacteria, were enumerated in the water from all five (5) boreholes under review. The water quality data generated has been compared with Malawi Standards for drinking water delivered from boreholes and shallow wells (MS733:2013) in order to check for compliance.

3.0 LABORATORY TEST RESULTS

The laboratory test results for the five (5) Village in Partnership (VIP) are shown in Tables 1-5.

TABLE 1: WATER QUALITY TEST RESULTS FOR SAMANI VILLAGE BOREHOLE

Item	Result	Malawi Standard (MS733:2005)
LAB No.	224	Boreholes & protected shallow wells
Date sampled	24‑09‑2022
Time sample taken	11:35
Time in (incubator)	13:50 (24‑09‑2022)
Time out (incubator)	19:50 (25‑09‑2022)
Water resource unit	—
Map sheet / grid ref.	—
Source type / location	Samani VGE – Tiyanjane Borehole, Zomba District
Faecal Coli / 100 ml	0	50
Faecal Streptococcus / 100 ml	0	0

TABLE 2: WATER QUALITY TEST RESULTS KHANDA VILLAGE BOREHOLE

Item	Result	Malawi Standard (MS733:2005)
LAB No.	225	Boreholes & protected shallow wells
Date sampled	24‑09‑2022
Time sample taken	11:55
Time in (incubator)	13:50 (24‑09‑2022)
Time out (incubator)	19:50 (25‑09‑2022)
Water resource unit	—
Map sheet / grid ref.	—
Source type / location	Khanda VGE – Malayina Borehole, Zomba District
Faecal Coli / 100 ml	0	50
Faecal Streptococcus / 100 ml	0	0

TABLE 3: WATER QUALITY TEST RESULTS LIBWALO VILLAGE BOREHOLE

Item	Result	Malawi Standard (MS733:2005)
LAB No.	226	Boreholes & protected shallow wells
Date sampled	24‑09‑2022
Time sample taken	11:09
Time in (incubator)	13:50 (24‑09‑2022)
Time out (incubator)	19:50 (25‑09‑2022)
Water resource unit	—
Map sheet / grid ref.	—
Source type / location	Libwalo VGE – Takondwa Borehole, Zomba District
Faecal Coli / 100 ml	0	50
Faecal Streptococcus / 100 ml	0	0

TABLE 4: WATER QUALITY TEST RESULTS CHIDULE VILLAGE BOREHOLE

Item	Result	Malawi Standard (MS733:2005)
LAB No.	227	Boreholes & protected shallow wells
Date sampled	24‑09‑2022
Time sample taken	12:21
Time in (incubator)	13:50 (24‑09‑2022)
Time out (incubator)	19:50 (25‑09‑2022)
Water resource unit	—
Map sheet / grid ref.	—
Source type / location	Chidule VGE – Dalitso Borehole, Zomba District
Faecal Coli / 100 ml	0	50
Faecal Streptococcus / 100 ml	0	0

TABLE 5: WATER QUALITY TEST RESULTS PHETEMBE VILLAGE BOREHOLE

Item	Result	Malawi Standard (MS733:2005)
LAB No.	228	Boreholes & protected shallow wells
Date sampled	24‑09‑2022
Time sample taken	12:34
Time in (incubator)	13:50 (24‑09‑2022)
Time out (incubator)	19:50 (25‑09‑2022)
Water resource unit	—
Map sheet / grid ref.	—
Source type / location	Phetembe VGE – Namanolo Borehole, Zomba District
Faecal Coli / 100 ml	0	50
Faecal Streptococcus / 100 ml	0	0

4.0 DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

The laboratory test results have shown that all five boreholes under review are producing safe water, which is fit for human consumption without requiring further mode of treatment. This is evident as all the 5 boreholes did not register any colony of the two indicator bacteria enumerated. It is known that the absence of indicator bacteria shows that disease causing (pathogens) are also absent. Similarly, the presence of indicator organisms indicates that pathogens are also present.

5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

The laboratory analysis of the 5 boreholes under review has established that water from all 5 boreholes drilled and constructed with financial support from Village in Partnership Malawi in Zomba District are producing safe water, without requiring further treatment, as it is in compliance with Malawi Drinking Water Quality Standards (MS733:2013) for boreholes and protected shallow wells.

CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC HANDWASHING FACILITIES.

The project has constructed 2 public handwashing facilities at Govala and Majiga Markets. In order to achieve this goal, the project identified a local contractor who provided all civil works--Zomba East Water Users Association--as water scheme owners, were identified to provide plumbing services as required. All tools and materials for this activity were procured by the project.

The key objective is to promote handwashing practices in the prevention of diarrheal diseases and COVID19.

The two proposed public handwashing facilities and civil works have been completed, and are waiting for water connections by Songani Water User Association.

Govala handwashing facility under construction

Majiga handwashing facility under construction

FINANCIALS -- DECEMBER 2022

EXCHANGE RATES

• JANUARY -- MAY: 825/\$
• JUNE -DECEMBER: 1036.2494/\$
• AVERAGE RATE: 930.62 /\$

STATEMENT OF EXPENSES - BUDGET vs ACTUAL

	Ref number on budget		Category	Description		Budget Cost $	ACTUAL (MK)	ACTUAL (USD)
	1		Operations	Hydro Survey		$2,000.00	MK1,070,000.00	$1,296.97
	2&3		Public relations	Five village mobilisation meetings & Locate resources		$2,000.00	MK2,243,000.00	$2,243.86
	5		Operations	Install two market place handwashing facilities		$1,200.00	MK1,715,196.25	$1,655.20
	6		Operations	5 Hand Pumps		$1,100.00	MK9,773,000.93	$11,846.06
	7		Operations	Water quality testing		$1,000.00	MK839,382.50	$1,017.43
	8		Supplies	Household handwashing stations		$100.00	MK300,000.00	$289.51
	10		Publicity	Education IEC, Training materials		$1,000.00	MK1,179,000.00	$1,429.09
	11		Equipment	5 Maintenance Starter kits		$260.00	MK465,972.50	$564.82
	12		Training	Village Mechanics		$1,130.00	MK932,250.00	$1,130.00
	13		Training	Village Water Council		$600.00	MK495,000.00	$600.00
	14		Training	M & E Basics		$360.00	MK297,000.00	$360.00
	15		Training	Data Collection Methods		$300.00	MK247,500.00	$300.00
	16		Training	Village Level Hygiene		$750.00	MK618,750.00	$750.00
	17		Training	Local Schools Hygiene		$400.00	MK709,272.03	$766.00
	18		Training	Mechanics Advanced Course		$700.00	MK2,203,962.50	$2,269.57
	19		Training	Market Place Hygiene		$750.00	MK1,291,759.60	$1,399.47
	20		Supplies	Hygiene Supplies		$750.00	MK618,750.00	$750.00
	21		Project Management	Contingency Fund		$1,100.00	MK907,500.00	$1,100.00
	4&9		Operations	Drilling Contractor		$35,000.00	MK18,253,651.41	$22,125.64
	TOTAL					$50,500.00	$44,160,947.72	$51,893.61
	DEFICIT							USD 1393.61