Water Harvesting System
A Borehole was not an option -there are many pit latrines in urban areas and thus a genuine concern about pollution of the water table. The school needed its own water supply, so a water harvesting scheme was installed in the Summer of 2010- divine intervention as it turned out as severe floods in October 2010 destroyed the water pump supplying much of Soroti and its environs. Local people had to rely on water supplied in jerri-cans at inflated prices.
Funding for the project was generously provided by two local schools- Chatham House Grammar, and St Georges C of E school.The scheme involved building concrete bases for 4 large plastic tanks and a water tower, Guttering was installed below all sloping roofs- 2 hours heavy rain was sufficient to fill all the tanks. Water pumped up to the water tower can either used for washing, or filtered for drinking. This made the school almost self sufficient for water, saving money and improving children’s health. The system is maintained regularly- it is especially important to keep the filters clean. When a tank is empty, it is thoroughly cleaned inside, and a 2 section aluminium ladder has been purchased for this purpose.