Water Projects
Water Projects
Access to clean water is a fundamental human right, yet many communities in Pakistan continue to struggle with limited or contaminated water sources. In response to this pressing issue, Karwan Development Foundation has taken up the noble cause of bringing clean water to communities through their dedicated Water Projects. By implementing sustainable water solutions, the foundation aims to improve the health, well-being, and quality of life for countless individuals. Joining hands with Karwan Development Foundation in their water projects can make a tangible difference in the lives of communities in need.
Tharparker, Sindh
In most of the villages, the only source of clean water are the deep dug wells ranging a depth from 150 to 250 feet. Dragging out water for drinking, washing and animal consumption is an extremely rigorous exercise: a group of 3 to 5 people would drag out a bucket full of water though a 200 feet tiresome walk on a scorching sandy track. At some places donkeys or a camel is used to pull out the bucket, but that is for the more privileged locals.
Solar Water Pumps
Karwan’s solar water pumps are not just water wells, but a whole new system of water distribution to local communities. The locals no longer have to walk all the way to a distant well to collect water; a tap near their own home can serve the purpose is a much more efficient manner, saving time, energy and resources.
The system Karwan installs consists of a solar power plant that first generates electricity from sunlight, then uses it to extract water from the depths of the desert through an electric motor. The water is then distributed to nearby communities through water pipes and the end of which is implemented a tap which the locals use to fill their utensils with water when they want.
To ensure a just system of distribution, timings are allocated to all taps for their usage, so that a decent water flow can be maintained in one tap at a time. Moreover, a water meter is installed at each solar water pump to keep a record of the amount of water used by each tap. A local individual is employed for the maintenance of the water pump as Caretaker, who keeps a check and balance for the usage of water. An insignificant amount of Rs. 1 is charged for 2 liters from the families using it, to ensure sustainability in terms of the salary of the Caretaker and the maintenance of the equipment.
A water user committee is also formed within each village that includes the local elders, to ensure that all water disputes are solved amicably.
One solar water pump benefits around 745 people and 415 cattle on average.
Hand Pumps
Although solar water pumps are an effective and sustainable way to ensure water distribution in remote villages of Thar, some areas have such scattered communities that the expense of connecting them to the solar pump through plastic pipes exceeds its benefits.
In such communities, hand pumps are installed with water wells. Through installation of Deep Wells with a Hand pump in accordance with sphere standards not only improves access to water for these poor communities, but also provides safer source of drinking water as compared to open wells. One hand pump benefits almost 35 people.
Addressing Malnutrition
Next to each handpump, Karwan plants a 20 by 20 feet kitchen gardening setup that constantly caters to the staple needs of 3-4 families. The water wasted from water pump is directly supplied to the kitchen garden where different vegetables are planted. Karwan provides free gardening training and seeds to the locals at the installation of each hand pump.
The objective is not just to build a constant food source for 3-4 families but to address the deeper, more sensitive issue of malnutrition in Thar. According to the WHO guidelines, if the Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate among children and women is above 15 per cent, it is to be considered an emergency situation. During the National Nutrition Survey conducted in 2011, the GAM rate in the province of Sindh is 17.5 per cent and the Severely Acute Malnutrition (SAM) is 6.6 per cent. Chronic Malnutrition, which could cause stunting, is 49.8 per cent. The GAM rate in Tharparkar District is even higher at 22.7 percent and the Chronic Malnutrition is 45.9 per cent. These statistics present a serious situation and calls for a swift action by the government and its partners to improve the nutritional status of children and women. The objective of Karwan’s kitchen garden is to generate a mass awareness among the locals about believing in their abilities to grow their own food.
Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir
In the hilly outskirts of Muzaffarabad city, the locals face similar problems related to the arrangement of drinking water as Thari people in Sindh do. As strange is does sound, the truth is that water springs in Azad Kashmir region are not prevalent and strong enough to serve to the water needs of all localities. Women, therefore, have to climb up the hills to arrange water. Similarly, children follow suit.
Karwan installs water storage systems in such areas. The system includes a source tank that collects water from a weak stream and then transfers it to a storage tank downhill from where locals can get water from a tap any time they want. This saves time such that the process that used to take 2 hours now takes them 5-10 minutes.
Mardan & Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
During Karwan’s School Support Program, it was witnessed that many government schools do not have a clean water source resulting in basic level issues to the teachers and the students. Hence, Karwan installed electric motors in schools in Mardan and Charsadda to ensure a constant supply for clean drinking water.
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