Mara Siria brings drinking water to 400 people on the escarpment.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 10:26AM The problem:
1. Mara Siria Camp was reliant on another lodge for water.
2. Local Communities were without drinking water for most of the year, especially in dry seasons.
The solution:
Rain water harvesting scheme with a back up river pumping station, plus water treatment plant to guarantee year round drinking water.
Water Treatment Plant at Mara Siria Camp
Now the camp has clean drinking water, and in addition to this there are four water points to provide drinking water to the local community.
One of the water points is at Ilokwaya School, and Mara Siria have agreed to provide the water, on demand, for free.
The construction of Ilokwaya School and their water tank was supported by Mpata Safari Club.
The three other water points are at Mara Siria Camp, Ilokwaya Centre and Ildolisho Centre.
The tap to the containers is kept under lock and key.
At these three water points, the water is not for free. Instead 1,000 litres costs 600 bob, which partly covers the cost for chemicals, diesel for pumps, and transport. There is a Mama in charge of each container, who then sells the water at a bob a litre, to cover the 600 bob.
The Mathematicians among you will realise that 1,000 litres is a 1,000 bob, but not everyone can afford the water and so some will get it for free. The distribution and payment of the water is managed by the community, by an elected water committee.
Optional Extras...
1. Education: As an addition to the water project, there is a sensitisation campaign on health and hygiene, and HIV/AIDS awareness.
2. Solar Electricity: Also on offer was 25 solar panel units, which include 40 watt solar panel, battery, chamber, charge controller, frame, lights, wiring and mobile phone charger. The typical cost for such a unit is KSh 35,000 but Mara Siria were able to subsidise this so that each unit cost KSh 15,000. These units are now installed at Ilokwaya School and various homesteads.
Community are now looking for projects to help curb the rise of graffiti artists in the area.
The Funders:
The cost of the water project, education program and solar panels amounted to KSh 15 million, of which Mara Siria paid for 50% and 50% was provided by Deutsche Investitions & Entwicklungsgesellschaft. Additional funds of KSh 720,000 were received by the German Government to procure a 25,000 litres water storage tank, a water tanker (5,000 litres) and a mobile water pump.
All in all, a fantastic project for a camp that has only been around for three years. Well done Mara Siria!
If you would like to help support a local community project, read about the Kisaru Maasai Community Project - Toilets for Everyone - and make an online donation today.
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Reader Comments (3)
congratulations big Mara Siria for having the heart for the local community indeed within the shortest time possible. Many camps and lodges have been around the Mara ecosystem for many years yet they have no worth project to show off while they rip millions of profits.
Without the good will of the local people who have chosen to forgo the cost and live with wildlife no camp or lodge will have had a chance to operate.
kudos Mara siria
It is great to see Mara Siria give something back to the community. I hope that the project continues to be a success!
WAU!!! it`s so great for Mara Siria, and i hope many of the investors around and within the Mara to do the same. All those reaping from wildlife, must give back to it, by providing essential basic needs to the communities living around these conservation areas. This is very important and it will go along in resolving the Human/ wildlife conflicts. The communities are now realizing the importance of living with wildlife.