Houy Tan (Phase 2)
Completed: September 2016
Completed: September 2016
Location and Access
Houy Tan is located approximately 10km from Luang Prabang city centre. To reach the community one has to cross the Mekong River and enter Chomphet District where only a winding dirt road provides access for vehicles. Wet season provides issues for large vehicles, in particular toward the end of August. The terrain is a combination of teak covered hills, shallow valleys and lowlands consisting of acres of rice paddy fields.
Houy Tan is located approximately 10km from Luang Prabang city centre. To reach the community one has to cross the Mekong River and enter Chomphet District where only a winding dirt road provides access for vehicles. Wet season provides issues for large vehicles, in particular toward the end of August. The terrain is a combination of teak covered hills, shallow valleys and lowlands consisting of acres of rice paddy fields.
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The Economy
Farming is the major source of income for the community. Cultivation of the surrounding rice paddy fields is the main source due to the flatlands and valleys surrounding the community. There is evidence of slash and burn on the surrounding slopes, though this practice is not overly common and occurs sporadically during March. |
Demographic
The village is home to 61 families with a total population of just over 300. The school population consists of 48 students and only 3 teachers. Those residing in Houy Tan are of Khmu ethnicity. Who are the Khmu? Click to find out. |
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Condition of water in Houy Tan pre-project
As of now, Houy Tan is supplied by a dated water system installed in 2003. That system was installed only to cater for the 20 families who resided in the village at that time. The current holding tank (1x2x2) is only 4m3 and thus capacity is limited to 4000 litres. Whilst this was sufficient in 2003 it is now, not only a degraded system, but wholly incapable of supplying the needs of 61 families. For the time being, villagers are rationing water when it’s available, catch rainwater during rainy season, and utilise the nearby creek for washing. In hot/dry season, the water supply is barely existent and we feel this needs improvement.
As of now, Houy Tan is supplied by a dated water system installed in 2003. That system was installed only to cater for the 20 families who resided in the village at that time. The current holding tank (1x2x2) is only 4m3 and thus capacity is limited to 4000 litres. Whilst this was sufficient in 2003 it is now, not only a degraded system, but wholly incapable of supplying the needs of 61 families. For the time being, villagers are rationing water when it’s available, catch rainwater during rainy season, and utilise the nearby creek for washing. In hot/dry season, the water supply is barely existent and we feel this needs improvement.
The Project:
To assist locals in the construction of a new Gravity-flow Water System to supply the entire community with a plentiful supply of running water
To assist locals in the construction of a new Gravity-flow Water System to supply the entire community with a plentiful supply of running water
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Via the implementation of a plentiful water supply we hope to improve health and wellbeing within the Houy Tan community. Long-term strategy will see us install a system capable of supplying the village year-round and to consider population growth as a factor.
The village primary school, the nearest high school is 15km away
Baci ceremony for previous volunteers in Houy Tan
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The meeting hall where volunteers will sleep
Example of a completed communal water faucet
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Why is this work so important?
Accessibility to a year-round supply of running water is a vital component in improving the lives of rural Lao citizens. The provision of safe water benefits the health and development of children, reducing the incidence of diarrheal diseases, which account for 10 per cent of under-5 deaths in the Lao PDR.
About 30 percent of child mortality under the age of five has been attributed to inadequate water supply. Whilst diarrheal diseases are a major problem- general malnutrition and helminthic infections are also prevalent. Stunting in children is another factor influenced heavily by inadequate water supply. This causes poor growth in young people, both physically and cognitively, which is not only a health concern but also an economic burden as that stunted child is unlikely to become productive in society. (UNICEF/WSP).
Accessibility to a year-round supply of running water is a vital component in improving the lives of rural Lao citizens. The provision of safe water benefits the health and development of children, reducing the incidence of diarrheal diseases, which account for 10 per cent of under-5 deaths in the Lao PDR.
About 30 percent of child mortality under the age of five has been attributed to inadequate water supply. Whilst diarrheal diseases are a major problem- general malnutrition and helminthic infections are also prevalent. Stunting in children is another factor influenced heavily by inadequate water supply. This causes poor growth in young people, both physically and cognitively, which is not only a health concern but also an economic burden as that stunted child is unlikely to become productive in society. (UNICEF/WSP).
Photos showing previous VTL work done on providing running water to rural Lao communities.
Data shows a connection between school enrollment and attendance within communities that have adequate water supply and those that don’t. It is appropriate to say therefore, that attainment levels in rural villages that don’t have access to water are bound to be lower than those that do. Furthermore, this is exacerbated further when considering the urban attainment levels compared to rural (no water access) villages. (WHO)
According to the World Bank’s Poverty and Environment Report (2014), the cost to the country of inadequate water and sanitation services is estimated to have been at least 5.6% of GDP in 2006 and possibly as high as 10% of GDP if all costs related to the detrimental effects of child malnutrition are included.
There is also the effort to reduce inequality between the rural and urban. “Urban-rural gaps in clean water and sanitation are widespread in this landlocked, mountainous country of 6.7 million people, where nearly 70 percent of the population lives in rural areas. “ (IRIN)
According to the World Bank’s Poverty and Environment Report (2014), the cost to the country of inadequate water and sanitation services is estimated to have been at least 5.6% of GDP in 2006 and possibly as high as 10% of GDP if all costs related to the detrimental effects of child malnutrition are included.
There is also the effort to reduce inequality between the rural and urban. “Urban-rural gaps in clean water and sanitation are widespread in this landlocked, mountainous country of 6.7 million people, where nearly 70 percent of the population lives in rural areas. “ (IRIN)
Outcomes
The benefits to the community of a year round supply or running water will be copious. A community with nowhere near enough water, to be determined as having an adequate supply, will not only gain a plentiful supply but also be able to begin plumbing their newly finished toilet units from our previous project within the community. What is more, unlike the system constructed in 2003, we can envisage the potential of population growth in the community. Using government data and forecasts we will build a system capable of supplying many more households that may be built over the coming years.
From a purely health perspective the benefits of adequate water supply acts as a preventive intervention, the main outcome is a reduction in the number of episodes of infectious diarrhoea. Stunting will still persist to a degree, as its causes are broader than the aforementioned. However, in tandem with the previous sanitation project, combined with a plentiful supply of water we would hope that there would be medium to long-term improvement in stunting levels within the community.
The benefits to the community of a year round supply or running water will be copious. A community with nowhere near enough water, to be determined as having an adequate supply, will not only gain a plentiful supply but also be able to begin plumbing their newly finished toilet units from our previous project within the community. What is more, unlike the system constructed in 2003, we can envisage the potential of population growth in the community. Using government data and forecasts we will build a system capable of supplying many more households that may be built over the coming years.
From a purely health perspective the benefits of adequate water supply acts as a preventive intervention, the main outcome is a reduction in the number of episodes of infectious diarrhoea. Stunting will still persist to a degree, as its causes are broader than the aforementioned. However, in tandem with the previous sanitation project, combined with a plentiful supply of water we would hope that there would be medium to long-term improvement in stunting levels within the community.
Non-health benefits are also diverse, from gains that are easily identifiable and quantifiable (costs avoided, time saved) to the more intangible (convenience, well-being).
A specific example would be school attendance (children less likely to miss school due to diarrhoea related illness). Therefore, one could assert a child would gain a better education from their family possessing an adequate sanitation unit. Their increased attendance due to less prevalence of ill-health is measurable, their added comfort of improved health is harder to judge, but we would expect added comfort to improve learning retention within the community.
Adults are also beneficiaries to the obvious health benefits. It is also reasonable to expect them to be more productive within their community. Less time spent taking care of their children suffering from ill-health would deliver more working days to contribute to the village economy. Indeed, their own improvements to health and wellbeing would also deliver more working days.
The convenience of having a household sanitation unit removes the time taken to find a suitable area to practice open defecation (more time to be productive) and removes the costs derived from open defecation (environmental cleanup/medicine for disease borne from the practice). It also delivers improved levels of well being through the knowledge and understanding that as a community they are now utilising a far better and modernised sanitation process.
Ultimately, this project will greatly improve levels of sanitation and access to it within Houy Tan. This will deliver improved health, hygiene and well being. Whilst also increasing productivity (economic & social), convenience (more time) and an increased standard of living for all who reside in the community.
A specific example would be school attendance (children less likely to miss school due to diarrhoea related illness). Therefore, one could assert a child would gain a better education from their family possessing an adequate sanitation unit. Their increased attendance due to less prevalence of ill-health is measurable, their added comfort of improved health is harder to judge, but we would expect added comfort to improve learning retention within the community.
Adults are also beneficiaries to the obvious health benefits. It is also reasonable to expect them to be more productive within their community. Less time spent taking care of their children suffering from ill-health would deliver more working days to contribute to the village economy. Indeed, their own improvements to health and wellbeing would also deliver more working days.
The convenience of having a household sanitation unit removes the time taken to find a suitable area to practice open defecation (more time to be productive) and removes the costs derived from open defecation (environmental cleanup/medicine for disease borne from the practice). It also delivers improved levels of well being through the knowledge and understanding that as a community they are now utilising a far better and modernised sanitation process.
Ultimately, this project will greatly improve levels of sanitation and access to it within Houy Tan. This will deliver improved health, hygiene and well being. Whilst also increasing productivity (economic & social), convenience (more time) and an increased standard of living for all who reside in the community.
Layout example of a Gravity-flow water system
Surveys have been completed for our Gravity-flow Water System project in Houy Tan. Photos below depict the surveying process of the water source.
This creek will provide running water for over 300 people. The method to gauge quantity and strength of the supply is buckets-per-minute, whereby surveyors calculate how many litres the source delivers per minute. In this case the creek evidenced a capacity to supply 32 litres/minute. As we are now in dry season that is seen as a more than sufficient supply. This survey is repeated several times over a period of months to make sure the supply levels are consistent.
The system will be supplemented with a 4x4x4 water holding tank that will collect and hold surplus filtered water so that supply to the village will be constant.
This creek will provide running water for over 300 people. The method to gauge quantity and strength of the supply is buckets-per-minute, whereby surveyors calculate how many litres the source delivers per minute. In this case the creek evidenced a capacity to supply 32 litres/minute. As we are now in dry season that is seen as a more than sufficient supply. This survey is repeated several times over a period of months to make sure the supply levels are consistent.
The system will be supplemented with a 4x4x4 water holding tank that will collect and hold surplus filtered water so that supply to the village will be constant.
On April 11th 2016 we made our first pipeline delivery to the community. This was one of numerous deliveries taking supplies into the community for the local community and volunteers to work with.
Volunteers have been working with the local community since mid-April to help complete the project.
Houy Tan village now has running water! After months of hard work by the villagers and our volunteers, the community is now seeing the return for their work.
A new water holding tank, pipeline and additional communal faucets will greatly enhance water access in the village. The source and pipeline will provide and deliver running water all year round. Furthermore, villagers now have the opportunity to begin plumbing their homes and toilet facilities.
Having already completed a comprehensive sanitation project in Houy Tan, running water for the toilet units will increase the benefits of that past project too.
A new water holding tank, pipeline and additional communal faucets will greatly enhance water access in the village. The source and pipeline will provide and deliver running water all year round. Furthermore, villagers now have the opportunity to begin plumbing their homes and toilet facilities.
Having already completed a comprehensive sanitation project in Houy Tan, running water for the toilet units will increase the benefits of that past project too.
