Lifelong Water: Constructing the Utui Mweu Sand Dam
Building a sustainable sand dam that captures and filters rainwater underground, transforming a dryland region into a self-reliant ecosystem.
Building resilience with sand dams in Wambiti, Kenya
Water is a Right, Not a Daily Struggle
In southeast Kenya, families can spend up to 12 hours a day fetching water. Worse still, this water is often scooped from unsafe, contaminated sources. This grueling daily burden steals childhoods by keeping kids out of school, draws women away from home for hours each day, limits local farming, and traps entire communities in deep poverty. At the Chestertons International Foundation, we believe access to clean water is a basic human right - not a daily struggle. To turn the tide against drought, we have partnered with Sand Dams Worldwide to deliver a sustainable, proven solution directly to the community of Utui Mweu.
The Power of a Sand Dam
A sand dam is a smart, low-cost concrete wall built across a seasonal riverbed. Over time, it captures rainwater and stores it safely underground beneath layers of sand.
- No Evaporation: Stores water underground, completely safe from sun evaporation and surface parasites.
- Natural Filtration: The sand naturally filters the water, drastically reducing waterborne diseases.
- Re-Greens the Earth: It raises the local water table, turning dry terrain into fertile land for year-round agriculture.
- Built to Last: Once constructed, a sand dam requires virtually zero maintenance and lasts for over 60 years.
Project Progress: November 2025 Update
The transformation is already well underway. Construction officially launched in October 2025. Thanks to the incredible, unified manual labor of the Utui Mweu Self-Help Group, the dam is on track for full completion between November and December 2025. Alongside the physical build, our partners are rolling out climate-smart agricultural training. This ensures local farmers can maximize the newly hydrated soil, secure long-term food safety, and become entirely aid-independent.
Be Part of This Life-Changing Work
- Donation: Just $107 helps a family access a lifetime of clean water.
- Fundraise: Walk or run 12 hours over one week to stand with Kenyan families who walk that distance just to survive.
- Give as You Celebrate: If you are a Chestertons client, consider marking your new home sale or rental by making a symbolic donation.
- Small Daily Swaps: Swap your daily bottled water or coffee purchase this week and donate the savings to fund our next dam.
Real Impact, Real Numbers
After building the sand dam, I hope my life will shift from struggling every day for water to building a future with it - growing food, raising healthy children, and having the time to dream beyond survival.
Be Part of This Life-Changing Work
Whether you are a client, employee, or friend, you can play a pivotal role in rewriting the future of southeast Kenya.
- Share their story. Help raise awareness by sharing this project with your network.
- Stay updated. Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest field updates.
- Support our mission. Your donation directly funds the tools, training, and safe spaces these communities need.