A New Zealand steelworker has turned a tap and brought running water and smiles to a remote part of Africa.
Kevin Smith makes water pumps that don't need any electricity. He's in Nandi in Kenya as part of his mission make running water a basic right rather than a luxury.
With that, two remote Kenyan communities now have what we take for granted. An event that deserved national news coverage, the County Governor was there and with him Mr Smith.
"The terrain needs to be hilly; it can't work on the flat," says Mr Smith.
The steelworker from Ngaruawahia makes ram pumps, where the energy of running water is used to pump up to holding tanks in hilly country -- no electricity or fuel required.
The method is perfect for some New Zealand farms and remote villages in the Kenyan countryside.
It means school kids now have access to water.
"You are looking at 173,000 litres a day getting pumped up the hill here," says Mr Smith.
The daily ritual used to be a long, hot walk to a water source that was used for drinking, washing and everything else. Now the water comes to them.
It's taken Mr Smith months to finally get the pump installed and running.
"We have far exceeded expectation in all and any regards," says Mr Smith.
His next project sounds unique -- setting up a water supply for an endangered African plant, but still using technology designed for Kiwi farms.
Newshub.
