Building Back Better on Lanta Island
Photo Essay: Expanding Community Access To Water
To support the longer-term tsunami recovery effort in Asia, The Coca-Cola Company and the United Nations Foundation forged in 2005 a collaborative partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in support of community-based water and sanitation reconstruction efforts in tsunami-affected areas of Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
In Thailand, this UNDP-led project is focused on the sustainable management of water resources in Koh Lanta, Krabi Province in Southern Thailand. Fresh water is limited on Koh Lanta, especially in the dry season, and the stewardship of water resources is a key developmental issue. An enormous amount of fresh rainwater simply runs off the island into the sea. Existing water reservoirs and wells do not currently meet the water needs of the island’s population, particularly during the dry season. Implemented in collaboration with the Chumchon Thai Foundation, a local NGO, the project builds upon and is part of a broader partnership between UNDP and the Government of Thailand to bolster the post-tsunami recovery of Koh Lanta.
With partnership and funding support from The
Coca-Cola Company and the United Nations Foundation, the project is
helping the tsunami-affected communities of Sanga-U, Che Li, Hua Laem and
Koh Por to plan, implement and maintain a series of activities to
alleviate water shortage problems in their villages. The following photo
essay, for example, tells the story of how the fishing village of Sanga-U
in the south of the island constructed a series of check dams to provide
their families with a long-term supply of water.
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| The fishing village of Ban Sanga-U lies in the southern tip of Koh Lanta, an island in the south of Thailand. This Uraklavoy or Sea Gypsies village has a population of 420 people with 117 households. Ban Sanga-U is the first village in Koh Lanta to implement activities under UNDP’s public-private partnership with The Coca-Cola Company and the UN Foundation in Thailand focused on addressing water challenges in tsunami-hit communities of Koh Lanta – part of UN efforts to support the long-term recovery of this island after the tsunami. | |
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On November 16, 2005, Chumchon Thai
Foundation, a local NGO working in collaboration with UNDP in Koh
Lanta, organized a field trip for the elders of Ban Sanga-U to
witness first-hand the check dam construction in Chiangmai, an area
in the north of Thailand with lots of experience in this
field. | |
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| The representatives of both villages exchanged ideas on site selection criteria, construction techniques, and operation and maintenance of the scheme. Water management and the formation and organisation of Water User Groups were also discussed. | |
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| Upon returning to Ban Sanga-U, a meeting was held among the villagers to determine the sites of the check dams. It was decided that a series of 10 check dams would be built along the Sungaisanga-U stream that runs through the village. Representatives from the Tambon Administrative Organization (the elected local government) were invited to witness the process. | |
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| One of the village elders inspects the potential site. The stream bed needs to be firm. The upstream water runs straight for at least 50 metres to avoid bank erosion. | |
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| The villagers took turns clearing the site and locating the source for gravel and sand nearby. | |
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| A firm foundation is the main key to check dam construction. If water was allowed to seep through the foundation, the check dam structure would be lifted and destroyed. | |
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| Sandbags were used as the main construction material. Some cement was used in the event of loose foundation. Since there was no access road for heavy equipment, all the work was carried out manually. | |
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| The construction crew takes a break to enjoy a completed check dam. It took the crew 2 months to complete the 10 check dams along Sungaisanga-U stream. | |
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| Right after the completion of each check dam, the villagers began to fetch water for household usage. In addition to retaining water, check dams slow down stream flow and soil erosion. Check dams also elevate the underground water table | |
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| Children in the village enjoyed playing in the back-up water of the check dam. | |
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| This lady said that the check dam is beneficial to her and her friends in the neighborhood, as they do not have to walk far to fetch water anymore. It saves them time to take care of other household needs. | |
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| “It (the water resources development scheme) is a simple system, really. It does not need anything hi-tech at all. Now that we have finished constructing it, we feel we can repair it ourselves if anything happens. It’s great.” Mr. Lao Taleluek (42), Sanga-U fisherman. | |
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| ‘I am a Sea Gypsy native. We are a proud people. I like the way the project staff makes an effort to involve us in the planning process. To us, this is very important. We now feel that they are one of us. Otherwise, we would not have cooperated in this at all. We are very pleased with how it is handled.” Mr. Bok Hantalay (57), Sanga-U elders. | |
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| “You can see some families are already thinking of installing pumps to bring water into their homes. Normally, this stream dries up in the dry season. Now we have some water to spare. It is a big relief” Mr. Young Hantalay (53) Sanga-U, fisherman. |
