Location: Pakanyi Sub County, Masindi District

Population: Approximately 380

Pump Installed: November 10, 2009

Donor: In memory of Henry Buchman, Milton & Belle Kaplan, Milton & Marie Wiener, Andy Kramer

Nyakabale is a very large village that straddles the border between two sub counties in Masindi district.  Busoga Trust constructed a well in April 2009 in one section of the village and is currently building another water source in the area.  Nyakabale is home to roughly 380 people who are almost entirely farmers growing maize, cassava and tobacco. Busoga Trust began working in Nyakabale due to the very poor water situation in the area.  Residents get water from open pools, which are very dirty and contaminated.  The appearance of the water resembles chocolate milk; murky and brown.  We spoke to one man who said he refused to take water from these open sources and would walk 2 kms to a government borehole to get his water.  He told us, “Our water is VERY dirty!  I won’t take this water, but many people do.  They will stand in these pools while collecting which only makes the water dirtier.  I walk very far, but I know my water is clean.” As we stood by one of these open sources he told us to be careful because there is a large black snake that often is seen nearby.  When we asked him why people didn’t try to get rid of the snake he responded by saying they couldn’t.  He told us that people believe the snake wants the water to be there and is protecting the source and if anyone killed the snake the water would disappear.  Despite beliefs, it is still disconcerting to know that a poisonous snake, most likely a black mamba, frequents the area where children are sent to fetch water. The benefits of a source constructed by Busoga Trust are that the well is sealed, protecting the water from being contaminated and the area around the well is also cleared of brush and kept clean, eliminating areas where snakes can hide.  The man we had been speaking to is very pleased that a new, improved source has been built.  His time (or most likely his wife’s time) spent collecting clean water will be greatly reduced along with the rest of the community of Nyakabale.

Well Data

Depth:  20 ft

Water Column:  10 ft

Recharge Rate:  7.5 ft/hr

The water column is the height of the water within the well or the distance between the water table and the bottom of the well.  The recharge rate is a measurement of how quickly the well refills after water is removed.

Water Quality Data Before and After Busoga Trust Intervention

Fecal Coliforms (E. coli) per 100 ML

Old Source: 50

BTA Well: 0

Percent Change: -100%

E. coli is a fecal bacteria which causes diarrhea, violent stomach cramps, and fever. It can be transmitted through contaminated food or water. US EPA water standards require E. coli and similar bacteria be completely absent from 95% of the water samples taken from a system.

Turbidity/NTU

Old Source: 148

BTA Well: 0

Percent Change: -100%

Turbidity is a measure of water clarity; it is an indicator of how much solid mass (silt, sand, clay, algae) and potentially disease-causing organisms a water source contains. Turbidity is measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units.  In the United States, the allowable standard is 1 NTU; Uganda strives for a turbidity level of less than 15 NTU.

View the Video of Our Impact in Nyakabale II

View Pictures Of Nyakabale II