Introduction:
This activity report provides an overview of the provision of operation and maintenance services to three mechanized community-owned/strategic water systems (boreholes). The aim of this initiative was to address water scarcity issues in areas most affected by water scarcity and to enhance the capacity of local plumbers and pump mechanics technicians in maintaining and improving the preventive maintenance of water points with mechanized systems.
Objectives:
The main and overall objective of this training workshop is to enhance the operation and maintenance of water service delivery, transparency and accountability, increase community awareness, participation, ownership and managements of water, sanitation, and hygiene to ensure effective and efficient service deliver in the WASH sector of Galmudug state of Somalia.
The main objectives of this activity were as follows:
a. Enhance the capacity of local plumbers and pump mechanics technicians in maintaining water systems.
b. Improve preventive maintenance practices to ensure the long-term sustainability of water points.
c. Address water scarcity issues in areas most affected by water scarcity.
Target beneficiaries and areas:
The activity was carried out in Dhusamareb, Abudwak and Balanbale. These areas were selected based on their high dependence on boreholes as the primary source of water and the presence of a community-owned/strategic water system. The target participants of this 5 days Operation and Maintenance for operators and water committee training workshop was 12 in total, 4, 4, and 4 from Dhusamareb, Abudwak and Balanbale respectively and 6 respective government officials were also included.
Timeline of the workshop
This training was kicked off in same day from 10th-14th September 2023.
Activities Undertaken:
The following activities were undertaken during the project implementation:
Training Workshops:
A series of training workshops were conducted for local plumbers and pump mechanics technicians from borehole operators and water management committee. The workshops covered various aspects of operation and maintenance of mechanized water systems, including system troubleshooting, regular maintenance routines, and minor repairs. The participants were provided with theoretical and practical training to enhance their skills and knowledge.
WMC related lessons:
• Engage to change community attitude towards operation and maintenance of target water facilities and strategic boreholes in Galmudug State.
• Upgrade the existing water managements committees and or integrate into the establishment of the new water user association to be formed an improved performance of water supply systems and community-managed systems, through better management and governance practices.
• Improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector services
• encourage public communities to conduct coordinated oversight and monitoring activities
• Boosted transparency and accountability during WASH programs implementation
• To encourage fair representation of women in planning, decision making and management of WASH programs.
• Increase awareness of water management committees to mitigate social risks related to sources of water contamination and their management.
• Ensure compliance with local rules and regulations through strengthened accountability and monitoring of service quality.
Equipment Provision:
Caretaker tools and equipment were provided to the trained plumbers and pump mechanics technicians. These tools included basic maintenance and repair equipment, such as pipe wrenches, hack saw, polyester rope (50m) pliers, water-pump pliers, mason hammer, original spanner (one ring and one open ended), digital tester and thread tape. The provision of these tools aimed to enable the technicians to conduct routine maintenance and handle minor repairs effectively.
Results and Outcomes:
The provision of operation and maintenance services to the mechanized water systems resulted in the following outcomes:
• The trained plumbers and pump mechanics technicians demonstrated improved maintenance practices, including regular inspections, lubrication, cleaning, and timely identification of minor issues. This led to increased system reliability and reduced downtime.
• Improved sense of ownership, greater efficiency and accountability leading to more sustainable water use and more equitable sharing of benefits.
• Technicians were able to handle minor repairs promptly, minimizing the need for external support and reducing system downtime. This resulted in improved water availability for the communities.
• The implementation of preventive maintenance practices helped to extend the lifespan of the mechanized water systems. Regular maintenance and timely repairs prevented major breakdowns and extended the operational life of the equipment.
• This workshop will also expected to play a crucial role for community’s conflict resolution and awareness raising orientation programs including hygiene and sanitations; financing of water sources will also contribute to be improved.
Challenges
Challenges we faced during the conduction of this activity is that finding of female participants was very difficult and availability of resources, such as spare parts and specialized equipment, posed a challenge in ensuring the effective maintenance of the water systems. Efforts were made to overcome this challenge by establishing partnerships with suppliers and exploring alternative sources.
Conclusion:
The provision of operation and maintenance services to the three mechanized community-owned/strategic water systems has had a positive impact on water availability and system sustainability in the targeted areas. The trained plumbers and pump mechanics technicians have acquired valuable skills and tools to ensure the effective operation and maintenance of the water systems. Continued support and monitoring will be necessary to sustain the outcomes achieved and further enhance the capacity of the technicians.
Overall, this initiative has contributed to improving the preventive maintenance practices of water points with mechanized systems and addressing water scarcity in the identified areas.