Water from Small Dams

Chapter 8.Protection of reservoir and catchment area8.1 Reservoir protectionFencing the reservoirWhere feasible, it is often appropriate to fence off reservoirs to keep livestock out. Thishelps to maintain better quality water and avoids the problem of livestock getting stuck inthe mud. Since fencing material is expensive and gets broken down by thirsty livestock,the planting of a live fence of cactus or similar thorny vegetation is much better.Washing stands and bathing roomsTo prevent contamination of dam reservoirs by people washing clothes and bathingdirectly in the water reservoirs, it is advisable to build washing stands and bath rooms.The waste water from washing clothes and from the hand-dug well should be diverted toirrigate a small vegetable garden. A watering trough for livestock, situated furtherdownstream, should also be part of the water point.LatrinesMany rural people have a habit of relieving themselves behind a bush, instead of usinglatrines. During the rainy seasons, rainwater run-off washes the excrement into damreservoirs where germs and pathogens can multiply and transmit human diseases. The useof pit latrines is therefore encouraged. Latrines must always be situated downstream ofhand-dug wells.51