After the photovoltaic solar system, it's the turn of the Simien spring water catchment and supply to arrive at the Sona school! This is the last major project of the 2020-21 dry season. It is being carried out at full speed before the rainy season arrives. A temporary river water pumping system had been put in place to supply the school construction site quickly. A permanent installation of better quality was planned from the outset. A spring water resurgence site had long been identified around 1.5 km upstream from the school. The local water authority, based at Janamora, was naturally involved in the project and even offered to take charge of the catchment work. The water supply, storage, purification and distribution remain the responsibility of the Foundation.
Water from Simien
Nicknamed "Africa's water tower", the Simien massif is a veritable reservoir of spring water. Countless streams and rivers criss-cross the mountains. The Blue Nile rises here before joining the immense Lake Tana, where it acquires its status as the major river of the African continent. The Sona plateau is no exception to the rule, with its many small streams and resurgences. According to the local water authority, 10 to 15 new water catchments are built every year in this sector of Simien. Construction of Sona was initially scheduled for 2020, but delays caused by the health crisis have pushed it back to 2021.
A spring water catchment at Simien
Unlike river water, which can be polluted by human activity and especially cattle herds, a spring water catchment guarantees good quality water, especially at an altitude of 3600m in Simien! This quality requirement is essential if the Foundation's programme of awareness-raising and education campaigns on good health practices is to be effective.
The complete water system at Sona
The spring is located at an altitude of 3543 meters (93 m above the school's altitude), at a linear distance of 1482 meters from the school. The flow rate to be ensured is about 800 l/h. The work on the catchment area is scheduled for the next few weeks. It depends on the water administration, which is financing it.
On arrival, a storage system with 2 tanks of 2000 litres each will also be set up. An infrastructure is being built that will house the tanks at height, as well as the planned filtration and UV sterilization system. It will be powered by a complete stand-alone photovoltaic system that has been installed with the rest of the power generation system.
The main part of the work is nevertheless represented by the buried water pipe which, on 1,6km, will connect the spring to the school!
A mobilized community!
A team of topographers came at the beginning of March 2021 to define the best route, avoiding high and low points that can lead to serious malfunctions in the installation. In particular, the accumulation of sediments in the low points, or air pockets in the high points. The route essentially passes through fields that are usually cultivated and we are in the middle of the sowing season! It was therefore necessary for Abeto, the Mayor of Sona, to mobilize his population to quickly advance the work while delaying the agricultural work! All this before the rainy season starts, expected in April. A real race against time... The community of Sona has few means, as we have already had the opportunity to say on many occasions. But what it does not lack is manpower and good will! Thus, since Monday, March 22, 3 teams of 80 people each have been working on the task!
The teams divided up the sections of the trench. They had to dig to a depth of 80 cm to avoid any risk of the pipe being ripped out during ploughing. The diggers also had to ensure that the bottom of the trench was free of sharp rocks that could damage the pipe.
For the duration of the work, estimated at a week, a veritable human garland will mark out the route of the future pipe linking the spring catchment to the Sona school!
The Foundation's supervision
Eric and Ignacio were needed to lay the pipe. While the components of the pipe were purchased in Addis Ababa, the bronze fittings and the various assembly components were purchased in Europe. Moreover, burying the pipe requires a precise methodology because of the expansion which, from full sun to underground, causes a contraction of around 4 m over such a length! At the end of March, Eric and Ignacio will be at Sona to finalise this magnificent project, health conditions permitting of course!
Photos by Getnet Yohanis, Melash Belete and Hervé Doulat