The Revival Centre in Matugga, Uganda

Sanitation and Drainage Project

Introduction

We rejoice in the development of the wonderful primary and secondary schools and nursery at the Revival Centre. These activities have now outgrown the sanitation and drainage infrastructure. The lack of toilets and poor drainage at the Revival Centre is now becoming a serious risk to the health of the children and staff and to the integrity of the buildings. An integrated solution to build new toilets, terrace and drain the site and harvest more water from the roofs needs to be taken forward.

Toilets

Under government regulations separate toilets and washrooms are needed for the boys and girls at both the primary and secondary schools and a separate block is needed for the nursery, making a minimum requirement of 5 toilet blocks. The pit latrine toilets that were installed when the Revival Centre was first established have filled up and come to the end of their useful lives and now present a health hazard. The clinic and nursery have recently been provided with new pit latrines in elevated locations and are adequate. Regarding the 4 blocks needed for the schools only 1 composting toilet unit is in place so at least 3 blocks are urgently needed.

Due to saturated ground and the high water table pit toilets cannot be developed in the valley bottom. The composting toilets can be installed in the valley bottom. Given the number and location of pupils and staff at the Centre (now around 700) and the need for an immediate low cost solution the following needs have been identified:

• 1 pit latrine/washroom for senior girls (on east slope) 5 pits = £ 900
• 1 pit latrine/washroom for senior boys (on west slope) 5 pits = £ 900
• 1 composting unit/washroom for primary girls (6 units; 3 in use/3 composting) = £1,800

The existing composting unit can be used by the primary boys.

Drainage and Water Harvesting

The Revival Centre is developed on both sides of a small steep-sided valley. When the rain falls water runs down the slopes of the site and overwhelms the small drains running along the valley bottom leading to flooding of buildings and the creation of wet areas which become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and present a serious malaria threat. The inadequate pit toilets overflow and the site becomes contaminated raising the risk of typhoid and diarrhoea diseases (which is one of the biggest killer of children in Uganda alongside Malaria, TB and Aids). The water is also causing significant erosion and gullying of the site and is beginning to undermine the foundations of some of the buildings.

The solution involves: 1) harvesting as much water from the roofs as possible to reduce run-off, 2) terracing the site to remove slopes and 3) installing drains. Some urgent works are needed immediately to protect hillside buildings where erosion is already affecting their stability and to defend valley floor buildings from repeated flooding.

In addition to reducing surface flows, harvesting water will take pressure off the borehole pump and provide a sustainable source of water. If the borehole runs dry or the groundwater becomes contaminated the harvested water will provide an alternative supply. In the area where there is the most intensive development of buildings the greatest reduction in runoff can be achieved. In these areas the buildings have been grouped into 4 catchment areas: A) Church and Primary Bocks, B) Secondary blocks, C) New Dorm and Primary Blocks, and D) Champions Home. The harvesting works include installing facia boards, guttering, hoppers and down pipes and installing suitably sized water tanks on prepared masonry bases (with A) and C) being 15,000L tanks, B) being a 10,000L tank and D) being an 8,000L tank).

The proposed scheme comprises the following elements:

• Immediate remedial works to safeguard buildings £ 1,000
• Terracing with retaining walls to remove slopes £ 3,000
• Drainage channels and culverts to manage flows and drain wet areas £ 3,000
• Facia boards, guttering and pipes for buildings in harvesting scheme £ 1,300
• Water storage tanks (installed cost: 2x £1,800 + 1x £1500 + 1x £1200) £ 6,300