Rock catchments

Wendo Wa Mwau rock catchment Rock catchments utilise the surface run-off of water from flat rocky outcrops on hilltops. By building channels around the rock, rainwater is guided into a pipeline that supplies one or more water tanks.

Since 2002, Excellent has supported communities to build 12 rock catchments, with each one able to collect up to 104,000 litres per tank for domestic use.

Could you donate today and supply more communities with the tools, hardware, support and guidance they need to transform their own lives with lifelong access to clean water?

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£15

could provide a farmer with drought-resistant seeds, so they can feed and support their family.

£30

could supply a community with a rake, gardening fork, shovel and watering cans, to plant trees for fruit, fuel and fodder

£60

could provide a roll of barbed wire to reinforce a sand dam, anchoring it to the bedrock.

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Latest

Climate Action Network UK “Nature-based Solutions in Action” report released

Excellent Development and our sand dam and climate-smart agriculture projects in southeast Kenya have been featured in a new Bond Nature-based Solutions report titled: “Nature-based Solutions in Action: Lessons from the Frontline"
Helping children to grow with water

The issue of water scarcity prevents many children from getting the most out of their education in southeast Kenya. Speaking with members of the St Stephen's Primary School community, we learn how a school water tank can positively influence the academic experience.
"With this new water tank, life in school will be more fun"

With water scarcity being a challenge for schools across southeast Kenya, many children are often required to bring water with them from home. Representatives from Kyumbe Primary School share how their school water tank has relieved this burden and helped children to enjoy school again.
The difference made by having water at school

Attending a school that lacks a reliable water source presents many challenges for students. Speaking to members of the Kasunguni Secondary School community, we find out the ways a school water tank has helped them to address these challenges.

School water tanks

Water tanks store rainwater collected from the roof of schools. A typical school water tank can collect up to 104,000 litres of water, and they refill every rainy season. Each water tank can last over 25 years and require little maintenance. Each one provides water for generations of children.
Sand dam road crossings

At Excellent Development we believe incorporating the principles of sand dam technology with low volume road crossing designs will deliver a more robust and cost-effective rural roads infrastructure.

A brighter future with water

We need your help so that we can support more dryland communities to gain access to clean water, prevent spreading diseases like COVID-19 and in turn build a brighter future for themselves.
What is a sand dam?
Donate

Please donate what you can to transform lives with sand dams and clean water.
1 million sand dams for 0.5 billion people by 2040

Read about our plan to directly support other organisations to build sand dams, in turn, realising our vision to support millions of the world’s poorest people by helping them to transform their own lives through water and soil conservation in drylands.
The challenge

Find out what are drylands, why they are they are such harsh regions to live, how sand dams are applicable in drylands and what difference they can make to over 40% of the world's land surface.
Reversing land degradation and desertification

Conservation of the environment is critical to the economic development of people living in drylands.
Watch how sand dams work

Film explaining how sand dams work and their potential impact in the world's drylands
Excellent Development wins at the Charity Awards 2021!

Excellent wins the International Aid and Development award for our sand dam projects in Africa!
Zimbabwe (Partner: Dabane Trust)

Dabane Trust and Excellent are working together with rural communities in the semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe to develop simple, appropriate and sustainable water abstraction and food production systems.
Our approach

Find out more about Excellent's approach, from working with self-help groups to why we partner we on-ground, local organisations.