Harare - To commemorate World Water Day (March 22), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Harare today demonstrated the efficiency and effectiveness of rainwater collection activities at Tasimukira Primary School in Chitungwiza.
The Peri-urban ROOFtop Rainwater Harvesting (PROOF) program, which began in June 2009, provides safe drinking water to over 25,000 Zimbabweans in urban and rural areas.
International World Water Day was initiated by the United Nations in 1993. It is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. The objective of World Water Day 2011 is to focus international attention on the impact of rapid urban population growth, industrialization and uncertainties caused by climate change, conflicts and natural disasters on urban water systems.
USAIDs PROOF program is run by NGO International Relief and Development (IRD) on behalf of USAIDs Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). The initial phase of the program focused on the high density suburbs of Harare and Chitungwiza. In June 2010, it expanded into Mutare and Buhera in southeastern Zimbabwe.
To date, PROOF has installed 805 rain water collection systems serving 2,653 households and eight schools with 26,321 total beneficiaries. All components of the rain water harvesting (RWH) systems are manufactured in Zimbabwe, creating jobs and a nascent rain water collection industry in the free market.
USAID Director Karen Freeman praised the program saying, USAID, through its Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, is proud to contribute rain water collection systems that will provide medium-term access to clean water for families and schools. With the expansion of the program to rural areas, we anticipate a bigger impact. This is particularly important for overburdened rural schools, which are trying to teach students while maintaining basic infrastructure with few resources.
Rain water collection systems consist of roof gutters and a water storage tank. The equipment provides abundant clean water during the rainy season, when the highest incidents of waterborne diseases, such as cholera and typhoid fever, are seen. With regulated consumption and sufficient water storage capacity, these rainwater collection systems can provide clean drinking water all year round.
In addition to improving access to clean water, the PROOF Rainwater Harvesting program also engages communities in water, sanitation and health activities, and serves as an example of rainwater collection for other NGOs and local institutions. In addition, all parts of the rainwater harvesting system are manufactured in Zimbabwe and the project has generated work for 16 teams of builders and 8 teams of plumbers. All equipment used by the PROOF program was manufactured at four local factories.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for almost 50 years. For more information on USAID programs, please visit www.usaid.gov/.
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