Water Project - Litein Kenya

AIC (Africa Inland Church) Litein Hospital has existed for over 100 years as a mission hospital that serves whoever walks in their doors despite their ability to pay.  It is a 220 bed level 5 of 6 trauma hospital that serves a basin of over 90,000 very poor people.The main concern for the hospital now is water.  Litein sits in a volcanic soil that does not allow for standard wells to supply water.  Friends of Litein did attempt a well in the best location possible in 2023.  It produced high quality water but low volume.  The lesson learned there is that volcanic soil is too permeable and does not store water well like our limestone soils.

In the past 3.5 years we have monitored the use of the hospital spring water and rainfall water as the water sources for the hospital.  During the 2 annual dry seasons (30-90 days each), the hospital is forced to shut off all water use in the hospital for 6-8 hours each day due to a lack of water availability.  Friends of Litein has also funded a hydrology study which has reported two streams and two springs that would be good water sources.

The next step is to determine what is the best solution using the available water sources.  This will include design of:  how to elevate the existing and new water sources,  what is the best design for water delivery, storage and treatment. 

Engineers without Borders is an engineering nonprofit that supports other nonprofits in this manner, especially in 3rd world country water projects.  EWB has agreed to do the design feasibility for this project.  EWB charges only for management of this project and experienced civil, hydrology and mechanical volunteer engineers create the best alternatives for this project.  The cost for this effort is about $5,000 to $15,000.  The actual design feasibility study would cost about $150,000 if it was done with a firm that does these projects with a profit margin.

As a Rotary club, we are asking for you to consider coming with our South Kansas City Rotary Club on this project.  We hope your club would consider a donation for this project.  We are currently requesting a matching grant of $2500 from our 6040 District.  Our further hope is that Rotary International thourgh a Global Grant will also assist in funding the completion of an adequate water system for this hospital.