Houy Pan (Phase 1)
Completed (July 2015)
Completed (July 2015)
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The end of July 2015 marked a special moment for the village community in Ban Houy Pan. Indeed, the community driven project to construct a gravity-flow water system has been completed and now the village benefits from a year round supply of water. The project and the story is below, but the outcomes and benefits include:
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Handover Ceremony:
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Location and Access
Approximately 50km to the north of Luang Prabang sits the village of Houy Pan. The majority of the route from the city is via the major road (route 13) northbound with a turn off and a few hundred metres of dirt track downhill to reach the community. Accessibility is therefore very good, even in the most severe periods of the rainy season supply runs should be achievable. The community is surrounded by mountainous terrain and sits in a valley where a small creek encircles the village. 
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The Economy
The economy is predominantly farming; the majority of locals working on the surrounding mountainsides. The proximity to the Nam Ou River also makes fishing a source of income to the community, though the new dam on the Nam Ou may alter the viability of fishing depending on the effects it has on the river and fish stock pattern. |
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Demographic
The village is home to 113 families with a total population of 513. Two minority ethnicities reside in the community with 30 families being Khmu and the rest Lao Leu. The village is densely populated, giving the sense that households are almost built on top of each other; homes consist of a variety of wooden shacks with several homes constructed with bricks. |
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The Project:
To construct and new gravity-fed water system capable of supplying the village with enough water to meet its current and future needs.
To construct and new gravity-fed water system capable of supplying the village with enough water to meet its current and future needs.
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The community lacks ample water supply. Currently the outdated system, constructed in 1994, fails to meet the needs of the villagers. The current tank (3x3x3) doesn’t store enough water, nor does the source deliver enough carrying capacity. There are 15 tap units scattered throughout the village, though none of them are working anywhere near as effectively as needed. 4 units are broken and the rest simply lack supply. Population growth combined with an outdated system and a depleted source make the project necessary.
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The current tank
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The outcome of the project will see enhanced levels of hygiene as the community gains year round access to running water for washing. The new system will include an effective filtration system, currently there isn't one, which will decrease the risk of waterborne diseases. This development will provide a long-term supply of water with a dependable source and a new tank, as well as the new source supplementing the currently undersupplied tank. As always, we will work with the community through workshops to help educate locals on the process of construction and how to maintain the system. By doing this, members of the village will gain a new skill; as well as being able to sustain the water system through understanding knowledge of its workings and procedures for maintenance.
Water in Vang Lei
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We have recently completed a very similar project in another rural community as part of a three phased development program. With Houy Pan however, we are seeking to develop the community to become a hub within the surrounding area. There are twelve smaller communities in close proximity to Houy Pan who will work with the community to understand the processes of implementing a project. We will then seek to deliver development to these surrounding communities and use Houy Pan as a model village. There will be minor sanitation work in Houy Pan subsequent to this project. The plumbing of sanitation units to utilise the increased water supply. Moreover, the school could be a potential site for expansion. Currently the village has a large primary school utilised by many from the surrounding communities. It may well be that there is potential to bring higher education to Houy Pan.
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Around Houy Pan
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We are delighted to announce that this marks another collaboration between Volun-Tour Laos and Baraka Community Partnerships. This will be the second large-scale gravity-fed water system that our partnership has provided to rural Lao communities.
Our strategy for this project is very similar to that of Vang Lei (Phase 1). |
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The materials required to get the project underway were delivered to the community on the 14th May 2015. The locals and contractors received 14km of pipeline a long with supplies for the filtration system at source.
As of the 19th May the community had already laid 1.9km of pipeline. There is a lot of work to be done! However, the village are well on schedule. Over the coming weeks work will continue on getting as much of the pipeline completed before our volunteers arrive to assist in the project. |
Our collaborative effort with Baraka Community Partnerships and Exodus Travels in Houy Pan is advancing. It is always rewarding for us to see the local community take so much upon themselves to complete a project. We feel justified in selecting a project where the villagers show so much commitment. They take time out of their schedules to work for the greater good- an all year round supply of water.
Whilst they work under the supervision of skilled contractors some of the locals gain new skills in the construction process. Moreover, their involvement gives them a greater understanding of how the system works. The sustainability lies in the ability of the community to take care of, and indeed maintain the system longterm. By involving themselves in the process they gain that insight and knowledge of not only how the system works, but also the contractors advise them on processes of basic maintenance.
Work has begun on the construction of the filtration system, construction of a new water holding tank, as well as the on going digging of trenches and laying of pipeline. The current water tank has a capacity of 27,000 litres, the new tank will be able to hold 32,000 litres. With the new water source capable of supplying the existing tank as well as the new one, the project will more than double the volume of water accessible to the community.
Whilst they work under the supervision of skilled contractors some of the locals gain new skills in the construction process. Moreover, their involvement gives them a greater understanding of how the system works. The sustainability lies in the ability of the community to take care of, and indeed maintain the system longterm. By involving themselves in the process they gain that insight and knowledge of not only how the system works, but also the contractors advise them on processes of basic maintenance.
Work has begun on the construction of the filtration system, construction of a new water holding tank, as well as the on going digging of trenches and laying of pipeline. The current water tank has a capacity of 27,000 litres, the new tank will be able to hold 32,000 litres. With the new water source capable of supplying the existing tank as well as the new one, the project will more than double the volume of water accessible to the community.
Our first group of volunteers working on digging trenches, finishing the new water tank and engaging with the community
The end of July 2015 marked a special moment for the village community in Ban Houy Pan. Indeed, the community driven project to construct a gravity-flow water system has been completed and now the village benefits from a year round supply of water. The project and the story is below, but the outcomes and benefits include:
- The project is providing clean and abundant water supply to more than 500 people living in the community.
- The primary school now has access to water within a close proximity. The school sanitation unit will also be supplied.
- Access to water will decrease the burden for members of the community having to fetch water from the nearby creek.
- Cases of diarrhoea and typhoid fever will significantly decrease due to the use of filtered water for washing as opposed to stream water.
- Overall living conditions in the village will significantly improve, especially for children.
- Water holding capacity increased from 27,000 litres to 59,000 litres.
- Abundant communal water provides a foundation to deliver water to indivdual households.
- Water for washing, cleaning clothes etc., as well as increased opportunity to develop sanitation will improve the local environment, in particular the creek in the village
