On the landing page for Terra Firma Rainwater Collective is the following: “Transforming rainwater into opportunity. We work at the intersection of natural forces and human ingenuity to enhance communities, reduce flooding, and address water scarcity in Central Africa, while promoting economic empowerment and climate resilience.” Based on the presentation by Mark Weinhold at the club meeting on Friday, they do exactly that!
Weinhold, a local US Forest Service employee, is on the board of Terra Firma Rainwater Collective, and was introduced to the problematic issues of excessive rainwater in Africa as part of the USFS international efforts in providing technical support to address climate issues around the globe. Terra Firma Rainwater Collective was founded by engineers and hydrologists working with communities to address this solvable problem of too little water when it’s needed, and too much when it’s not.
The Terra Firma project addresses the management of rainwater in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, where they receive 5-6 feet of rainfall per year! Too much water that floods the city, no water treatment facility for city of 17 million people, no public rainwater management or collection facilities, erosion that rips the land apart, increasing urbanization, increased pollution and disease: combined together these issues are dire for Central African residents and their futures.
Terra Firma Rainwater Collective works house-by-house providing a complete rainwater management system that begins with gutters and rainbarrels. Using the roof clip they developed, rain water can be successfully diverted and collected into storage containers to be used for a variety of household uses. This system keeps water from running down streets, eroding the landscape as a result of giant gullies.
the clips are simple and cheap to produce and sell. The rain barrels are made of ferrocement that is cheap to build and easy to repair. These become sustainable supplies and build economic opportunities while mitigating the water problems. The TFRC positively impacts the community is numerous ways. Weinhold enumerated the following benefits:
- At home water supply.
- Positive adaptation to climate change.
- Employment opportunities.
- Small business opportunities.
- Promote urban gardening.
- Create possibilities for gender equity.
- Increased safety.
- Infiltration of rainwater
- Protection of downstream neighbors.
Climate change requires we all rethink our relationship with water: it can be liability or an asset. We have to get creative about understanding the issues and then determine how best to address them. There are so many problems that are facing our neighbors around the globe. Learning about this very compelling problem and the creative, sustainable, and economically viable solutions to help others thrive is inspiring.
I found the Terra Firma Rainwater Collective website clearly outlines the issues facing Kinshasa, the approach they are using, and the impact of their work. Is there a way that you, we, Rotary, can play a part in ensuring the continued success of this work on the other side of the world? I encourage you to check it out.