[WLRC – 27 Nov. 2025] BRIGHT project of Water and Land Resource Centre (WLRC) conducted an Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) activity at Shama Kebele, Chencha Zuria. Residents of Laka village have taken swift action to rehabilitate a long-neglected community water supply point after receiving technical advice and guidance from the BRIGHT project water supply team.
For years, the water point in Laka village had been mismanaged, lacking a functional gate valve to regulate water flow. As a result, water had been running day and night, wasting valuable resources. The site was also left unfenced, poorly sanitized, and vulnerable to contamination—posing potential health risks to the community.
During a recent field visit, the BRIGHT water supply team, led by Dr. Behailu identified the issue and engaged local administrators and community representatives. The team emphasized that while BRIGHT is ready to support improved water infrastructure in the area, sustainable impact depends on strong community ownership and proper management of existing resources. The team cautioned that without visible community commitment to maintain their water points, the project would be forced to reconsider future interventions in the village.
Following the guidance, the community mobilized immediately. They successfully repaired the gate valve, restored proper water flow control, fenced the site, and cleaned the surroundings—transforming the water point into a safer, protected, and hygienic facility. Local leaders expressed appreciation for the support and reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding water infrastructure moving forward. The BRIGHT project welcomes this positive development and views Shama Kebele’s action as a model for community engagement and ownership in upcoming IWRM interventions across the catchment.