Sand dams-sustainable rainwater harvesting to help rural dryland communities
In the February 2023 guest blog, Sarah Joseph, Programmes and Fundraising Officer at Sand Dams Worldwide described the impact sand dams have had on rural dryland communities with examples from Kenya.
Sand Dams Worldwide is a UK registered charity that supports rural, dryland communities to work their way out of poverty with dignity. We work with in-country partners to support vulnerable communities to implement sustainable water and food solutions suited to their environment. This usually involves climate-smart agricultural training alongside the construction of sand dams.
A sand dam is a sustainable rainwater harvesting technique that enables communities in water stressed areas to gain access to a dependable supply of clean, safe water. It consists of a reinforced concrete wall built across a seasonal riverbed. During the short but intense rains common to dryland regions, water flows over a sand dam and deposits sand behind the concrete wall where water is stored, safe from evaporation and contamination, to be harvested over the coming months. 97-99% of river water continues downstream, so downstream users are not affected. A mature sand dam can store up to 40 million litres of water, naturally replenishing every rainy season. https://www.sanddamsworldwide.org.uk/what-is-a-sand-dam
Sand dams also have a positive impact on the surrounding environment. They raise groundwater levels, enabling vegetation to regenerate, which in turn helps reduce soil erosion, reverse land degradation, and create more fertile land for farming.
As the Programmes and Fundraising Officer at Sand Dams Worldwide, I support the management of our programmes, as well as directly fundraising for our work. A large part of this involves communicating with existing and potential new funders about why it is so vital that we can continue doing the work that we do.
Earlier in the year I had the opportunity to visit Kenya, one of the countries where we work. I saw first-hand the impact sand dams have had on so many lives. It was inspiring to see how through their own hard work, grit and determination, communities had built their own sand dams by hand – with the support of our Kenyan partner, the Africa Sand Dam Foundation (ASDF) – to ensure long-term water security for themselves, their neighbours, and for future generations too. I was also amazed to see the difference sand dams had on surrounding environments, combined with the continued efforts of the communities to implement sustainable farming practices. Walking along the riverbanks nearby one community’s sand dam, we were surrounded by lush, green vegetation, where farmers proudly demonstrated the rich variety of crops that they were now growing, where previously the land had been barren.
During the visit I met Jeanniffer Maluki and Mary Matinda, two members of the Kyandani self-help group, who have constructed three sand dams. They both spoke joyfully about the difference sand dams have had on their lives. Mary said:
“Before we constructed the sand dams, collecting water was a big challenge. We had to walk to the nearest water point, which was 5km away, and then queue for around two or three hours to fetch water. So when you were assigned the duty of collecting water you were not able to attend to any other chores. Now though, it takes just 30 minutes to get water from the sand dam! We have really saved a lot of time, so we can attend to other duties like tending to our farms.”
Jeannifer also spoke about how the water from the sand dams has helped her transform her farm:
“After we built the sand dams, I started off by planting just a few trees on a small plot of land. But after seeing them survive and grow so well, I have since planted well over 500 trees, growing oranges and mangoes. I have now also been able to employ two people to help me work on the farm, which wouldn’t have been possible before we built the sand dams.”
If you’d like to find out more about Sand Dams Worldwide, or to make a donation, please visit our website: https://www.sanddamsworldwide.org.uk/
The website includes detailed explanations of how sand dams work and why they can be so important, and case studies suitable for classes studying the challenges of drylands and dryland food production. The challenge | Sand Dams Worldwide
The resources section of the website includes films and leaflets which would support pupil activities.
Learning resources | Sand Dams Worldwide
About the author: Sarah Joseph
Sarah Joseph has worked in the charity sector for over eight years in a variety of different roles in fundraising and across a range of different causes, including a HIV and sexual health charity, a disability-led arts organisation, and a learning disability charity. After initially working with Sand Dams Worldwide in a temporary role, Sarah joined the team in January 2020. As Programmes and Fundraising Officer she supports with the management of Sand Dam Worldwide’s programmes, as well as with fundraising and reporting to their donors.