TITLE: Rainwater harvesting in Burkina Faso: an alternative for areas with high water

Transcription

1 TITLE: Rainwater harvesting in Burkina Faso: an alternative for areas with high water Abstract: During the last decade, the level of groundwater in Burkina Faso has dropped in several areas due to climatic vagaries and overexploitation of ground water and surface water for the benefit of irrigation and communities Potable Water Supply. Indeed apart from big urban centres, the population is supplied with water through boreholes and wells. Yet the realisation of these types of water facilities is sometimes impossible in some areas with very difficult hydro-geological conditions (hard rock or ground without water). In addition, in recent years, we've noted that toxic minerals such as arsenic and nitrate have contaminated the water of some wells and boreholes. Indeed a study in the northern region of Burkina Faso found that water from several boreholes and wells is contaminated with arsenic. The measures taken by the authorities to fix this problem were the outright closure of the contaminated water to prevent poisoning of consumers. However no alternative water supply has been offered to these communities. They are abandoned to themselves and obliged to have recourse to traditional water sources such as ponds and streams where the water is of poor quality. The poor quality of water from these sources causes serious health problems, with women and children spending a lot of time on this daily burden as far as they are responsible for collecting water for the household. This disturbs economic activity, education and quality of life. Access to drinking water is an important condition for improving millions of lives in the Sahel areas. To solve the water problem of communities from these localities in Burkina Faso (with very high water stress) a programme for rainwater harvesting is being implemented since 2006 by NGOs with the support of the RAIN Foundation. The programme is very well appreciated by the beneficiaries (often disfavoured by the nature) and who feel a great relief from a problem that delayed their development for years. However the Government of Burkina has not yet recognised the collection of rainwater as a source of drinking water supply for communities. Thus the rainwater water harvesting programme coordinated by a Centre of Expertise for Rain Water Harvesting (CECEPA) constituted by the international NGO WaterAid and the National Representation of the Regional Centre for Low cost Water and Sanitation Technologies (RN / CREPA) has built more than 400 facilities for the collection of rainwater. The programme is also doing a lot of advocacy work to influence the Burkinabe authorities in recognising the technology. Programme objectives Objective 1: Local capacity for programme management, technical support and sensitisation on Rain water harvesting The programme targets a capable association or NGO in Burkina Faso that would like to play a key role in piloting Rain water harverting CEP. This capacity centre will thus be supported with knowledge and resources. By Strengthening and monitoring the capacity of the center the issue of lack of knowledge and experience on rain water harvestin is raised En renforçant et en supervisant le centre de capacité pose le manque de connaissances et d expérience relative sur la CEP. This will also create a pre-requisite for the achievement of MDGS.

2 . Objectice 2 : Access to rain water harvesting for the poorest and most vulnerable groups The programme aims to give access to rain water harvesting for more people, either by building the necessary infrastructure (capacity of collection) or, for example, indirectly by stimulating micro-finance focused on rain water harvesting. Direct investments in infrastructure are needed to enable people to have experience in rain water harvesting and make them aware of the solutions suggested by the knowledge centre. Objective 3 : Local acceptance of rain water harvesting as a realistic option in the context of integrated water management For a broader integration of rain water harvesting, it is important to get departments of water companies (directors, governors, engineers and performers) interested in rain water harvesting. This explains why another objective of the programme is to convince governments and enterprises in the effectiveness and potential of rain water harvesting. Goal 4: The proper and effective program. Objective 4 : Appropriate and effective management of programmes Strong financial and technical management is also included as a goal even though, in practice, it is a condition for each of the other objectives. Results : - The knowledge Centre on rain water harvesting is operational in Burkina Faso ; - The knowledge Centre shares experiences and knowledge with other countries ; - A sustainable collection capacity of m3 with a minimum of 80% in rural areas; - Identification of three beneficiaries techniques and methods according to their local situation(s) aknowledge by local NGOs, contractors and designers; - Existence of micro financing for rain waterharvestion; - NGs and state level implementers are awre of the success and appropriateness of rain water harvesting; - Rain water harvesting is integrated in governments national policies (for example the IWRM plans); - Strong and adequate financial and technical management of the programme; - Alliance with a wide range of sector stakeholders; Programme Partners and intervention areas The current programme is coodinated by the knowledge centre for rain water harvesting which is made upe of WaterAid the country office of CREPA (regional centre for low cost water and sanitation technologies). WaterAid is responsible for the financial and administrative management of the programme while CREPA ensures its technical management. The programme is funded by the RAIN foundation from Program Netherlands, which is mobilising the funds necessary to carry out the work with its donors. The construction and sensitisation of beneficiaries works are done by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). At the moment, the programment is implemented in three regions of

3 Burkina Faso by six (06) local NGOs namely: Sahel Region : This region is covered by the following NGOs : - Association Nodde Nooto ; - Association des Volontaires pour le Développement du Sahel (VDS) (volunteers for sahel developement); - Association pour la Gestion de l environnement et le Développement (Environment management and development) (AGED). East region : It is covered by the following NGOs : - Association d Appui à la Promotion du Développement durable de la Communauté (APDC) (support for the promotion of community s sustainable development) ; - Association pour la Recherche et la Formation en Agro-Ecologie (ARFA) research and training on agro-ecology). North region : It is covered by «Association Etre Comme les Autres» (ECLA) (Association Be Like Others). Achieved activities Since its set up as the coordinating body for the programme, the knowledge centre has achieved the following activities: - Training of technicians and masons from implementing NGO; - Monitoring and evaluation of implementing NGOs projects; - Design and reproduction of advocacy materials ; - Various advocation works with the government of Burkina Faso for the integration of rain water harvesting in the set of technologies that are currently in use in Burkina for safe water supply to communities; - Design and reproduction of materials for information to the population (Flyers, posters, Documentary film ) and beneficiaries sensitisation (Rain water harvesting system user manual) ; - Organisation of meetings (national and sub regional) for experience share on rain water harvesting ; - Water quality monitoring of Rain water harvesting systems tgrough analyses and treatment as necessary ; - Set up of a steering committee of the rain water harvesting programme in Burkina Faso ; - Develoment research : The purpose of this research is to reduce the cost of the tank hitherto inaccessible for the target populations and find other alternative technologies for the collection of rainwater, such as undergroung tanks.

4 The activities conducted under this research revolve around the construction of experimental tanks with different characteristics: The activities conducted under this research revolve around the construction of experimental tanks with different characteristics: A witness tank called T1 with a capacity of 5m3, with a thickness of 8cm having the same characteristics as the tank usually constructed ; A tank called T2 with a capacity of 5m3, with a height of base reduced to 17 cm and a wall thickness reduced to 6cm; A tank called T3, carried out with a metal to form a uniform and smooth wall and to effectively control a thickness reduced to 4 cm. The vertical reinforcement was limited to a height of 20 cm from the bottom of the tank base. T3 is performed without the horizontal frameworks; An underground tank T4, with a depth of 3 m and a diameter of 1.80m, with a dome above ground without reinforcement. The wall of the tank was covered with a coating of a thickness of 2 cm and a light coat of sealant. The structure of the dome was made of iron plates and iron concrete 6. After four days the structure support was removed and a thin layer was applied for the finishing of the dome. A tank T5, built according to the dimensions recommended by the expert. This tank has the following dimensions: thickness at the base 5 cm and 3 cm at the top. After a week of achievement (drying bag covered with jute and Polyani film), there was a crack of 0.6 mm to 1.68 m vertically on the tank. This pushed the team, in consultation with CREPA senior staff, decided to build another tank called T6; A tank T6, with a foundation of 10 cm and mesh 30cm * 30cm in HA6 and a thickness of 8 cm at the base of the wall and 5 cm at the top of the wall. The walls of this tank will not have iron HA 6 vertically but poultry grill. An underground cistern, circular with a diameter of 60 cm and a depth of 1.500cm, made with a plastic sheet; An underground tank T7, square of 80 cm per side with a depth of 1.50 cm, made with a plastic tarpaulin; DEMEC are placed on the tank to measure the variation of expansion as the tank is empty or filled with water. Tests of varying thickness are made on the rain harvester with an electric drill. Tests on the strength of the mortar under various conditions of drying are carried out on samples taken during the construction of the tank. Particular attention is paid to the quality of materials (sand) used in the construction of tanks. A pump was made with two PVC pipes of different diameters that can fit into one another. All other elements used in the manufacture of the pump were either purchased or made in the marketplace or in the shop of Saaba by CREPA/BF team. After sewing, a practical test of yield was made. The outflow rate being low (<8litres per minute), its improvements has been recommended to achieve a rate of 10 liters per minute. Discussions are underway to find a

5 better way to make the pump have a capacity of 10 liters per minute. Implementing NGOs carried out the following activities : - Selection of the rain water harvesting systems beneficiaries; - Community mobilization for the construction of rainwater harvesting facilities; - Construction of rainwater harvesting facilities; - Sisentisation of of rainwater harvesting facilities beneficiaries; - Post-completion monitoring of rainwater harvesting facilities. Achieved Results - The Government of Burkina Faso and actors in the field of water are informed of rain water harvesting; - Existence of a center of expertise for rain water harvesting; - The government of Burkina Faso is increasingly interested in rain water harvesting with the collection of rainwater; - Over 400 rain water harvesters with a total capacity of more than 5,000 m3 are built and serve more than 6,000 people; - Communities from the intervention areas now have good quality water during the dry period; - Women and girls have now more time for their economic activities and to attend school; Waterborne diseases have declined slightly in some villages; - Share of experiences with other countries in the region at a regional workshop that will bring together participants from Burkina, Mali, Senegal and the Netherlands; - Research development, ongoing. Perspectives : The rainwater harvesting programme in Burkina Faso seeks to: - Continue advocacy work with the government authorities for the integration of rainwater harvesting in the range of existing technologies for safe water supply - To share experiences with other stakeholders in the water sector; - Continue the construction of rainwater harvesting facilities; - Introduce the construction of sand dams; - Continue research and development in order to obtain conclusive results.