13. Fundamental Considerations
WASH Although access to potable water is improving in Senegal, rural areas remain poorly serviced (World Health Orginisation, 2015). The Tanaff valley is one of the country's worst serviced regions, with almost zero access to filtered water and no sewage system (Kaira Looro, 2021, p. 17) (AMCOW, 2015). Although soap availability is expected amongst most households in Senegal, access to it for washing purposes is lacking. This is because soap is often far from a toilet or source of water, is often in the hands of people who do not want to share it, or households do not have a specific space for handwashing (Global Scaling Up Handwashing Project, 2010). Therefore, the project must prioritise improving: access to clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, greywater disposal and human waste disposal. The four main priorities in selecting WASH strategies for this project where: cultural sensitivity, sustainability, cost-efficiency, and ongoing system resilience. Furthermore, it is fundamental that systems are low-tech and user-friendly, ensuring the community can maintain and replicate the systems with limited water access.
