Yemen is among the world’s poorest countries in terms of water resources, with average rainfall of 200 millimeters a year and no year-round rivers or lakes. To build their famous civilization, Yemenis depended entirely on collecting rainwater in reservoirs and cisterns to cover their needs during dry seasons. Throughout history, Yemenis lived in harmony with their environment. In mountainous regions they relied on rain water collection cisterns and in lower regions on shallow wells to cover their domestic needs, and in both regions the dry toilet was common.

However, this harmony was disturbed in the 70’s with the introduction of drilling rigs, modern flush toilets and high migration.  Through the Water and Environment Unit, SFD aims to improve poor communities’ access to water and sanitation.  To improve access to water and sanitation, the Water and Environment Unit (W EU) supports communities with rain water harvesting, mechanised water systems, wastewater management, solid waste management, and improving shallow wells and springs.  Training and awareness raising is mainstream in all these interventions to insure their sustainability and maximise their benefits.

Water sector  currently works in the following main area:

1.   Water for Domestic Use

This sector focuses on interventions that aim to provide improved water for domestic use, that is drinking, washing, cooking, hygiene and livestock.

For rural areas, improved water quality means water provided by the following sources:

• Protected well
• Protected spring
• Protected rainwater harvesting cistern

To improve the water quality, particularly in the case of rainwater harvesting, the following components are considered:

• Sand and floating materials trap basin
• Covering the cistern to prevent algae growth and mosquito breeding and pollutants
• Promoting efficient household water filters
• Hygiene and environmental awareness
• Improved water lifting tool

SFD gives priority to projects that depend on renewable water resources, are simple to operate and maintain, and are therefore likely to be sustainable. Traditional construction methods are encouraged. .
To support mechanized systems from ground water source, the following conditions must be fulfilled:

• Ground elevation at well field should not exceed 1200 m above mean sea level.
• Depth of static water  level in the well should not exceed 100 m.
• One pumping stage is enough to transport water to the community.

To be eligible for support for drinking water and rainwater harvesting projects, communities must be able to meet the following criteria.

• Establish a Waters Users’ Committee.
• Provide running and maintenance costs.
• Provide land for the project’s components (cisterns, tanks, dams, etc) as appropriate
• Contribute into the total capital cost.

For each intervention type, there is a maximum cost per person. If this cost is exceeded then SFD cannot provide support. Details of cost limits are provided in SFD’s Guidelines of Operations.  During technical appraisal a number of aspects need to be assessed. These include a technical appraisal of the current water system, of existing water infrastructures &  installations, technical &  financial feasibility of new construction, rehabilitation or extension. To encourage commitment, ownership and cost sharing, contributions from the community are required. These vary according to type of installation and are detailed in the Guidelines for Operations.