Steps to Consider When Starting a Water Project

Presented below for you, dear reader, is a brief step by step list of the things that you need to take into account (from the humble beginnings until the end) when considering a water project.

The first and most important step in any development project is that the community decides on a project. If this is not done, it can pretty much be guaranteed that the project WILL NOT BE SUSTAINABLE.

Once the community has identified a project, you need to determine how much water you will actually need.

Often, water may only be drawn from the tanks, but it is possible to build a distribution network if this is not the case. If the water is to be distributed through a system, decide exactly how the system will be configured. Are you sending water to centralized community distribution centers or to individual households? How will the pipes be laid out? Do you need a pump?

Identify what source of water you will use. It will be important to take two things into consideration. First, what is the distance of the source to the distribution point(s) and second you need to ensure that the amount of water needed for the water project can be sufficiently supplied by the source. If your desired primary source won’t supply enough, you can find a second source, to either replace or supplement the original. Just remember, more sources mean more money. And we all know what more money means.

Determine how much storage is necessary for the project. Storage will be necessary if the inflow of water will not be constant at all times.

Determine if treatment is necessary and, if so, what type(s). This could be removing particulates (dirt, small solids, etc.) or it could be eliminating bacteria through various processes.

Apply for grants and other funding so that the project actually comes to fruition.

Train the proper people on how to effectively operate and maintain the system.