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Rainwater harvesting tanks in schools in Myanmar - Introducing safe water sources for students and teachers
08 Aug 2008 08:22:00 GMT
Source: Malteser International - Germany
Malteser International

Website: Website: http://www.malteser-international.org

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A rainwater harvesting tank in front of a school in the Alankone District in Myanmar
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A rainwater harvesting tank in front of a school in the Alankone District in Myanmar
Photo: Malteser International
With some areas in Myanmar receiving up to 5000mm annual rainfall, its precipitation rates are among the highest in the world.

Nevertheless, rainwater is rarely used by the rural population for drinking purposes. Instead, water is carried over long distances to houses and schools.

To generate a safe water source for students, Malteser International with the financial support of BMZ, ECHO, ADH and UNHCR is constructing 52 RWH tanks in schools and health facilities in different project locations throughout Myanmar.

Through the promotion of rainwater, the population is now getting used to it as a drinking water source, and are encouraged to collect rainwater by themselves.

The RWH tanks for schools are 22 m³ in volume, and consist of a reinforced ferro cement wall. Rainwater is collected from the corrugated galvanised iron (CGI) roof of the school buildings. To prevent accumulated dust and dirt from the roofs entering the tank, a 'first flush system', a down pipe with a plug, is installed in the piping system, which should be activated after longer dry periods and especially in the first weeks of the rainy season.

The tank is equipped with an overflow and washout pipe, and an outlet tap which is located in a lockable tap house. Drainage leads overflow or spilled water to a soak pit or an existing trench, depending on the location.

An important part of the activity is training in use and maintenance for students and the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and promoting the good quality of rainwater. The PTA is in most schools the responsible community-based organization, taking care of maintenance, cleaning and repairing of the tanks. This involves regular cleaning of roof and gutters, cleaning of drainage and checking if all openings of the tank are covered with fly screens to prevent mosquito breeding.

Rainwater is a safe water source if it is collected on a regularly cleaned roof and the first flush does not enter the tank. Instead of using rain-fed, mostly unprotected ponds, the students are encouraged to take rainwater as a reliable alternative, at least during the rainy season. Normally the number of tanks for schools is calculated by the standard of one litre of drinking water per student per day, based on the required supply throughout the dry season, with the exception of school holidays.


[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]


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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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