The Portland Maine Professional Chapter of Engineers without Borders (EWB-PMP) continues their passion to support developing communities across the globe. After completing their water project in Ecuador, they have now teamed up with the Connecticut EWB Chapter (EWB-CPC) to enhance and expand the drinking water supply for the community of Ndaleta, in the Kiteto District in Tanzania. The community is located in the Masai highlands, six hours southwest of Arusha, the city in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The project began in 2018 after a Tanzanian health organization traveling to Ndaleta saw that women from the community got water by walking four hours to fill water jugs at a small pond also used by cattle, sheep and wildlife in the area. The dark brown, murky water was clearly not sanitary and, to make matters worse, the women explained that if they reached the pond and found that lions were there that day, they had to walk home with no water.

Tanzania is a highly diverse country, with more than 120 tribes. Early in its independence in 1964, the country adopted Kiswahili as its official language as part of an effort to unify its many tribal groups. The community of Ndaleta reflects this diversity, with many tribal groups, mosques and churches, the most prominent being members of the Masai tribe, living and working together harmoniously.

After surveying the needs of the community during a trip in 2019, the Connecticut EWB chapter contacted geologists with the Portland EWB chapter to assist with planning and design of a new borehole, which was drilled in Ndaleta in 2022. In 2024, members of the Connecticut and Portland chapters traveled to Ndaleta to evaluate the performance of the borehole and survey the current water needs and improvements in community health.

This survey found that the water provided by the new borehole had decreased the occurrence of stomach problems, improved the health of people who got water from the borehole and made it possible for some girls to stay in school longer, instead of having to fetch water from the distant pond. This increases their literacy rate and raises the entire community!

However, all the issues were not solved and additional water sources were needed to supply the community with the 15 liters per person per day recommended by the World Health Organization.

In 2025, the Portland EWB Chapter formally partnered with the Connecticut chapter for the next phase of water improvements in Ndaleta. Members of the Portland chapter have a wide range of expertise and are working on planning and design for:

• Developing new water sources for Ndaleta by testing and installing pumps in unused boreholes drilled by WaterAid in the early 2000s and possibly drilling a new borehole in the future;
• Improving sanitation of the water filling system and containers used by community members;
• Improving the quality and taste of the natural hardness in the existing borehole water to meet Tanzanian water quality standards;
• Assessing the feasibility of eventually developing a system to distribute water throughout the community.

The Connecticut chapter is planning and designing expansion of an existing rainwater catchment system to serve the community school.

Current efforts are working toward a trip to Ndaleta in the fall of 2026 to construct several new systems and several follow-up visits to the community are likely in the future.

Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA) is a global organization that seeks to assist communities in meeting basic human needs, such as access to clean drinking water, sanitation and education through engineering projects. EWB-PMP is a chapter under this organization, the only chapter based in Maine. EWB-PMP is composed of volunteers from various engineering disciplines, geologists and non-engineers alike.

In Ndaleta and other communities, EWB-PMP contributes the full engineering design and assists in the construction of a project. However, EWB-PMP is just one side of the triangle that makes these projects happen. A project’s in-country nongovernmental organization (NGO) – in this case, Little Voice – is the second support. Little Voice (littlevoiceministries.org) is the liaison with the community of Ndaleta and the regional government and provided logistical in-country support for EWB.

The third side of the triangle is the community itself, along with the regional government. Community members provide administrative, creative and physical skills to ensure the project’s success. The community and regional government water authorities are invested in its success of this project and committed to doing their part to make it a reality. Ultimately, all three stakeholder groups on an EWB-USA project envision alternatives to solving the problems at hand and agree together on a culturally relevant and sustainable solution for the community.

Another significant element of EWB-USA projects entails the funding that is needed to facilitate construction. The chapter provides full funding for the initial construction of projects, with the community responsible for raising 5% of the total material cost to keep in a bank account for future operation, maintenance and repairs. By enabling the community to invest in their infrastructure, they are empowered to become self-sufficient and have a stake in the project. Ndaleta community members collect a water user fee that ensures the system remains in working condition.

EWB-PMP’s funds come largely from Portland Uncorked!, our annual silent auction and networking fundraiser, which takes place each fall. This event typically raises upwards of $30,000 each year, primarily from corporate sponsorships, led by a generous donation matching challenge by Haley & Aldrich, Inc.

EWB-PMP is early in its work on the Ndaleta project and with so many possibilities, they are always seeking volunteers to help make it happen. Visit ewbportlandmaine.org or send an email to [email protected] for more information about upcoming meetings and ways to get involved.