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	Introduction   Kenya: Water jars   Kenya: Loading donkeys   Kenya: Shallow wells   Ethiopia: Rural ponds   Bangladesh: Research centre		Water jars , Lake Magadi, south-west of Nairobi Outside a rural primary school stands a large clay pot, taller and much wider than a person. To the local people it looks like the gourds they traditionally use for making beer. "It's a shape familiar to local women, and that simple idea is the first step in getting the women to help build the jar," explains Sharon Looremetta, project manager for the Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) in the Magadi area. "The jar holds 2,100 litres of water. So far there are ten in the area, all outside primary schools. "It is made with sand, cement and chicken wire, materials that are fairly easy to get hold of. "You start with the foundations and a big bag of manure," explained Looremetta. It won't crack "It is then smeared with the mix of sand and cement. Each day you do another stage and leave it to dry. By the end of a week it is ready. You take out the bag of manure and are left with a big round tank. Water is stored in it for a further 21 days. After that it won’t crack and its ready to use." The women bring water by donkey and fill the jar. It keeps cool and lasts for a week or two. Rainwater is also collected from the roof of the school. There is a one further source of water – the British company Magadi Soda runs tankers along the main road, but the only way to get the water is to sit with a gerry can until the tanker turns up. Local women spend hours waiting in this way for water. Everyone can benefit "This school has a lot of water problems," said Looremetta. "It is far from a water point. We thought it would make more sense if the tanker could come here and fill the jar instead of the teachers and children going to the roadside to wait for the tanker. "We used to build the jars at individual homes but then it only benefited one family. When you put it at the school, everyone can benefit." Related website: Intermediate Technology Development Group Magadi Soda The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Listen to the radio series: Solutions parts 1-4 BBC World Service visited Lake Magadi, in February 2003

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