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The MCC Sand Dam Project in a Nutshell

Sand dams are small, low-tech dams that are built in areas with seasonal rivers (rivers that flow only after rainstorms), and work by slowing down the flow of water during and after the often intense rainstorms here. They work best in regions with soils that have high sand content (30%). Fast moving water carries sand with it. When the water is slowed down by a sand dam, the sand sinks and settles, while the clay and silt move on. The sand stores water behind the dam, which can then be tapped into with wells.
The villages of Mkonze, Chididimo, and Zuzu are the current foci of the MCC project (see Google Earth link above).
Villagers provide labor and rocks, while MCC provides the mason, cement, tools, and transport.
The project started in 2008.
Wikipedia link for sand dam