To make water last year-round, Kenyans in dry regions are building sand dams on seasonal rivers

On a dry riverbed one recent sunny morning, residents of Kasengela village toiled away mixing cement and sand to make concrete. The barrier, typically made of concrete, impedes water flow and coarse grains of sand settle behind it, creating an artificial aquifer that fills up during rainy seasons. Seasonal rivers flow a few times a year here, and with little piped water and few reliable alternatives, many people here depend on them for water.