Kalehe Water Project Report 

Since the tragedy that occurred in Kalehe on 04/05/2023 (devastating flooding), the population of Nyamukubi and Bushushu had moved to the villages of Bubira, Luziba, Bulembo, Kanyunyi, etc. In these villages there was no tap capable of producing water for all the displaced people of the area. This is how ACLUP shouted for help to BHW who also heard the screams. The funds to build the tank capable of serving this entire population had been released. Initially, ACLUP thought it would serve the population up to 6 kilometres away, but the work on the ground has given other realities to the point of serving the population which is located over at least 10 square kilometres. ACLUP carried out such a large project to the satisfaction of the population, local authorities and even other organizations who admired this achievement by ACLUP.

Today, the population is proud of themselves and has implored the Lord to bless the benefactors who have ensured that they too are provided with drinking water.

Recent Events

Activities

In October 2023, ACLUP sent its team of engineers and hydraulic engineers to Kalehe for the start of the project. This team worked day and night to bring smiles to the victims of the rain disaster in Kalehe. So, the work began in the middle of October 2023 and has just ended on December 28, 2023. We thank Bright Hope World who accompanied us and pray to the Lord to bless this entire team who works day and night for the benefit of the poor population, especially in our country where poverty and misery kills over 5% of the population each year. 

Construction of Water Catchment

The source has a big quantity of water; a Jerry can is full of water after 3 seconds. It was rehabilitated by the ACF 20 years ago, but now ACLUP has extended this water over 10 kilometres where people are joyfully fetching water at their point; then to serve the displaced people in this area. Before, this water was only consumed by the households located next to the source. Now, more than 6,000 households consume this water from the Bubira source to the main road to Bushushu. This first catchment, which was already old, had been modified and we built a tank of at least 40 cubic meters to supply all the villages with drinking water.

The earthworks on this land consisted of digging a large hole where it was necessary to begin the work of collecting and installing the water table. The filter was installed using hydraulic lime, coal, gravel, rubble, etc. The water released was surprising given that the quantity was very large. As with every catchment, the water was tested to see if it could be consumed and that is actually what was done. 

Piping

As we announced in the project, the capture was carried out on site at the source. The tank was built at 500 meters. It was therefore necessary to dig trenches for the pipes so the pipes to supply the tank were placed underground. We used two types of pipes: the large pipes to supply the tank and another small pipe to serve the population who used the old hydraulic installation which was already old.

Tank Construction

After having grounded the pipes and connecting these pipes from the well, it was necessary to connect with the tank. As there was a large capacity of water, a tank measuring 40 cubic meters was built to contain the water and to give it pressure to the surrounding villages.

Construction of Standpipes

Initially, we had planned around seven standpipes but following the need that was observed and the request from all the villages, we were able to scatter 10 standpipes in all corners of Bushushu and Kanyunyi. We note that the village of Kanyunyi was added given that its population had also received displaced people, and this is how we had the passion for this population and agreed to extend other pipes to this village of Kanyunyi.

At Bubira where the source starts, we installed a standpipe for those who are surrounding the well. The village takes the name of Bubira which is the name of the proprietor of this place, an old man of 93 old years. When we came to Bubira, this old man told us about some history of this place and asked us that he may keep for himself and his family the standpipe. We did as asked, and the pipe has been built in his plot.

After Bubira, we also installed other standpipes in the village of Bukanga. Since this village is large, it needed three standpipes that we installed. This population of Bukanga is very grateful to see the water in this way. This old woman (below left) testified that until 67 years, she was not able to see the tap as she is experienced today.

Here, we are at Luziba village (above middle) with the engineer testing the water before installing the taps. Another two taps have been installed here.

In total, 10 standpipes were scattered in more than five villages in Bushushu. In most cases, population concentration was taken into account, especially where we found displaced people, we installed one or two taps. The standpipes are placed over a space of 10 kilometres in Bushushu. The water is happily consumed by more than 6,000 households. We give thanks to the Lord for having given us the strength to carry out this great work in Bushushu and thus put an end to the ordeal of the population who were suffering greatly. (The photo shows the engineer explaining the function of the tap which these people have never seen or used before)

Visit to the Village of Camula, Kalehe

We had finished the work in Bushushu and Kanyunyi but while we were working, the neighbouring residents 15 kilometres from Bushushu, came to ask us to come visit them to see the level of suffering they are going through.

We visited the sub-village of Camula where the presence of water is almost non-existent, and the population of this region is going through an ordeal to obtain drinking water. We didn't promise anything, only that we observed one thing. These are former Rwandan migrants who live in this environment. Given that Congolese society is plagued by tribalism and exclusion, these people are not beneficiaries of humanitarian projects. They are in the forest, so to get there you have to walk 15 kilometres. This village of Camula lacks everything. The poor nutrition of children and adults is visible on their faces.

In this village, people still build the kind of house you see in the picture. 13 very poor families asked ACLUP to provide them with metal sheets as to cover their houses. Some of them are pygmies, displaced and immigrants from Rwanda.

Conclusion

During the implementation of this project, we observed that the population was waiting for its completion. Some joined us to begin cutting trenches through which the pipes passed. Surely, they are a poor population and we were conscientiously forced to pay them so as not to create a social imbalance in society. ACLUP collaborated with local authorities and the project has now been handed over to a local civil society committee. The role of this committee is to regularly monitor maintenance tools. When purchasing, we provided parts (taps, elbows, teflon, tangit glue, etc.) for maintenance. This committee will play the role of monitoring this work left under its responsibility.

Our thanks, to Bright Hope World for providing funds for the realization of this project.

Water is the main need in our community. Everywhere we meet with different demands. The neighbouring population of Bushushu has the only source called Ubatizo, where over 1,500 households fetch water. They presented a need of the rehabilitation of their well as we did in the other villages.