Trip Purpose, and Global Brigades
The purpose of this trip: to construct 3 household rain water harvesting cisterns for use a source of drinking and hygienic water in Aboano, Central Region, Ghana. This project was facilitated and administered by Global Water Brigades, a subsection of Global Brigades. Our group from the University of Arizona was coordinated and organized by a few students that have done this project for 3 years now (thanks for your work Camille, Evan, Trechel, Crystal, Rudy).
A little bit about Global Brigades, from their website:
"Global Brigades is the world’s largest student-led global health and
sustainable development organization. Since 2004, Global Brigades has
mobilized thousands of university students and professionals through
nine skill-based programs that work in partnership with community
members to improve quality of life in under resourced regions while
respecting local culture.
Our Vision
To improve
equality of life by igniting the largest student-led social responsibility movement on the planet.
Our Mission
To resolve global health and economic disparities by empowering
student volunteers, local professionals, and community members in a
collaborative holistic approach to sustainable development."
(http://www.globalbrigades.org/vision-mission)
The 9 skill-based programs are architecture, business, dental, environmental, human-rights, medical, microfinance, public health, and water.
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Current State of Water Resources
Current water resources in Aboano are drastically different from anything I have ever been used to. The primary of source of water available to people (especially during the dry season) must be gathered by hand from a series of ponds in specific depressions in the area. Additional sources of water include: rain water; water delivered by private companies in trucks; and groundwater accessed by wells.
Ponds (primary sources of water):
These ponds are fed by rainwater in the wet season, which lasts from about March through September or October. During the dry season, many of them dry up. The ones which remain are connected to the water table, and it is these that community members depend on. At times, people will wait to for 8 hours as water seeps slowly out of the ground and onto the surface.
Biological activity is a serious concern, as these are stagnant bodies of water open to the air and sun; testing for E. coli has been positive. Additionally, biological activity may be the source of rashes and hair loss that people experience, due to using this water for washing.
A note on education: as we were standing here discussing these ponds, some of the children started scooping up water and drinking straight from the pond, while another child urinated about 10 feet from the water. A part of this trip involved water use and conservation education, which will be discussed in a later post.
Pre-existing Community Rainwater Harvesting
Community members currently practice rain water harvesting in trash cans, barrels, and some constructed cisterns. These tend to be open to the air, or only partially closed. Again, by being open to the air and stagnant, these are environments that are conducive to the proliferation of biological contaminants.
Water Storage:
Groundwater
In addition to the basic economic limits of constructing a well in the area, water in the local aquifer is brackish (salty), and community members do not like to use it for hygiene, let alone for drinking. I do not have any data on the actual salinity of the water.
Private Water
Private trucks deliver water, on occasion. As it was described to me, those who deliver the water have a monopoly on this market and charge exorbitant prices. This is not a reliable nor primary source for people, currently.
Note: In the urbanized areas of the region, a traditional water treatment plant delivers sanitized water to communities via pipelines. Aboano is not currently connected to this system due to its isolation.
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Weda Lodge, Anomabo
We stayed in the Weda Lodge in Anomabo, a beautiful place located on the top of a hill on the coast. I think Anthony (the caretaker) said the lodge was built in the 1950's. Here are some photos looking out from the Arizona men's room, which was located on the top floor:
And looking up at the lodge from below, different angles:
Most mornings, a group of us went for a morning jog (/walk) along the sea and through the local villages. We tended to catch sunrise on the beach:
Anthony is the man in yellow. So full of life and enthusiam this man is! He takes care of the Weda Lodge, and was a great host. Thank you, Anthony.
Next post: the community's welcoming ceremony and we begin construction!
