Louise initially secured some land in Ngaramtoni which was donated to the community. Our charity, working with Rotary Club of Blaby and Arusha District Council, drilled an exploratory borehole and the water was analysed to show sustainability and safety if used for drinking and cooking and also for the farm animals.  Following this Louise had discussions in the UK parliament with the Minister for DfID (Department for International Development) and secured £1.8 million towards the project.  Reverse Osmosis is now being used in the system due to fluctuating levels of fluoride which means that the project is now a £3.5million project! We are working in partnership with Wateraid, E-Water, Arusha District Council, Nelson Mandela University in Arusha, UK Government (DfID) and DfID (Tanzania)  on this project.  Feasibility studies were conducted, all relevant permits secured and the drilling company completed the geological surveys before commencing drilling.  

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Two boreholes have been drilled in Ngaramtoni and a much larger water source in Elmutoto is being accessed and utilised in the system.    Obviously water analysis will be continuous and on-going. This will then be cascaded to the villages by a  mixture of gravity and pumps where they will have tanks constructed. From these the water will be accessed through E-water taps available around the villages especially at the schools and dispensaries/hospitals. Residents will have pre-loadable credit cards which they show to the tap and the water is dispensed. This is a large project requiring significant funding however the project will provide 110,000 people in this rural area of Tanzania with sustainable, safe, clean water, improving sanitation, hygiene, health, focus for children at school, farms (both animals and crops) and homes in a very large area. Separate areas have been designed for animal access so cross contamination does not occur, which has happened in villages where both animals and humans drink from the same source. Training has already started in the villages regarding sanitation, hygiene and health and will continue.  Members of communities have also been given seats on the Water Board in Ngaramtoni to represent the villages in decision-making and all funds from the payment for water will be collected here and used by the communities for maintenance and development.  It will not be collected by the council or government.

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The opportunity is there should residents, in the future, wish to take the supply directly to their house at their cost as a development of this foundation project.

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Louise has been to visit on a number of occasions and had meetings personally with all parties involved, visiting DfID Tanzania in Dar Es Salaam as well as the council, Wateraid, E-Water, Tanzanian Ministers and the university.  Louise has been on many visits since to ensure that the project is moving forward and to meet all the engineers, contractors, district officers, etc.  Please see the photo gallery for images showing the progress.

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Notably the National Torch was taken to our project which gave it National interest and this is the biggest water project done in Tanzania to date.

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Louise has just had a call from the Country Director of Wateraid stating that a Community Engagement Committee is being set up and we have been asked to lead on this.  We have been active partners in this project from the start.

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This project is coming to completion and the President of Tanzania is expected to attend along with representatives from DfID and the CEO of Wateraid.  It will be a very special time and its great to see the communities accessing water that has the highest standards of bottled water due to the treatment the water is going through.