Location and Requirements
Kathonzweni is situated in Machakos, which without exaggeration can
be considered to be one of the most arid part of Kenya. Rainfall here is
everything without which crops and people cannot sustain themselves.
There is no pipeline or water distribution system therefore it’s all
left to the rain which is not collected and stored in any form. When the
Mission was opened years ago it was evident that rain alone could not sustain
a continuous presence for the community and its development therefore a
borehole was drilled.
Luckily water was found and a generator powered pump installed. There
was plenty of water at last. However water was not needed by the Mission
alone but also by the surrounding community. Yet in order to satisfy
everybody’s requirements it meant the pump had to run continuously with
very high running costs, which the Mission could not sustain for long.
Here was a dilemma. The Mission spent the money for the borehole and pumped
whatever water could afford for them but could not provide continuously
for the very community they were there to help in the first place. As if
this was not enough the generator not only cost in diesel fuel, repairs
and maintenance but transport of the same and logistics played a crucial
role. Without mentioning that during the rainy season all the above considerations
mean very little. After years of difficult compromises and decisions the
Sisters considered the possibility of a solar pumping system even though
they only heard about it. E-Solar supplied the following solar pumping
system.
System Configuration
04 H80 Helios Solar Modules
01 Solaflux Solar submersible Pump
01 Solar Controller
Clients Comments
Sisters of the Most Precious Blood
P.O. Box 7
Kathonzweni
Dear Sir,
RE: APPRECIATION
We’d like to express our appreciation and gratitude for the work E-Solar
has done for us. Since three years we have a solar pump, installed at 68
metres depth, which is giving us enough water, with no expense.
We are also supplied by a system of solar light, which satisfies our
needs well. We have the sincere hope to continue well as now.
With much gratitude.
Yours faithfully,
Sr. Donatella Zoia
The Sister in Charge