Solar-Powered Water System for Kasambya Village, Uganda

Incorporated in both the United States and Uganda, Water Compass constructs, operates, and maintains solar-powered water supply systems in rural Uganda that are financially, ecologically, and socially sustainable. Founded in 2016 in response to unsustainable approaches to providing clean water to rural communities in Uganda, Water Compass works with a growing network of villages in the water stressed districts of Bukomansimbi, Gomba, and Sembabule.

Water Compass’ model works by improving existing boreholes or drilling new ones, then installing solar-powered water supply systems integrated with user-friendly smart water meters with mobile payment capabilities and real-time professional maintenance - a first in the field of rural water supply. Systems are financially self-sustaining, provide employment, and foster local economic growth, with a maintenance model designed for efficient, responsive operation.

In Uganda, roughly one in five people lack access to safe drinking water. With a rapid population growth rate of 3.27% - one of the highest in the world - Uganda is predicted to experience significant water stress within the next five years. These rates are even higher in rural areas, where only 8% of residents have access to safely managed water. With a population that is 85% rural, access to clean water is a major concern across Uganda.

For this proposal, we are seeking targeted support from the Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation toward the surveying and drilling of the borehole at the heart of one of our first systems targeted for construction in 2024 - a solar-powered water system serving Kasambya village in Sembabule District, Uganda. Sembabule District has one of the lowest safe water coverage rates in the country at 38%. The village of Kasambya, with an estimated population of 1,200 people, houses a vibrant trading center and school, but still lacks reliable access to safe water; instead, students and residents are forced to rely on a seasonal and easily contaminated surface water supply created by a shallow dam. Following Water Compass’ engagement in recent years, residents of Kasambya voted overwhelmingly for the project to proceed, and land for the borehole and additional water system structures was immediately offered by a local church. This land is situated in an ideal location for raised water storage tanks to be able to supply the community via gravity, making it possible to create a direct connection to the local school. The successful implementation of this project will transform the health of the community and its children, and will accelerate the progress of our work throughout the rest of the year. 

Pending funding confirmation, Water Compass aims to survey and drill the borehole in Q1 of 2024 and to bring the system fully online – including hiring a system attendant and ensuring that community members are familiar with system operation – by the end of Q2 of 2024, which will provide the community with a reliable and sustainable source of clean water before the start of the dry season (particularly important given the village’s current reliance on surface water). 

In order to assess outcomes, Water Compass will track the number of beneficiaries, percentage of community coverage, liters of water provided, kilometers of travel and hours saved, system uptime rate, cost and savings per beneficiary, and overall water quality results over time. Medium-term goals are a community utilization rate over 80% within the first year and a system uptime rate greater than 99%. Long-term expected outcomes are that: (1) residents of Kasambya will have consistent and affordable access to safe, clean water; and (2) vulnerable populations such as the elderly, women, and girls will benefit from reduced time spent gathering water, reduced distance traveled, higher satisfaction with water quality, and no increased costs over prior collection practices.

Data will be tracked through our digital payment system and asset-management tool, and outcomes and impact will be assessed using this data along with resident surveys. During the construction phase, reporting would focus on progress of the borehole, water quality tests, community meeting outcomes, and construction progress; during subsequent years, Water Compass would be able to report ongoing usage data as well as broader impact data as described.