Uganda has been selected as the only country in Africa to pilot a project that provides cheap and pure drinking water to schools and clinics in rural Uganda. Appropriate Technology (AT) Uganda, together with Enterprise Works/ VITA, with funding from the Diageo Foundation’s Giving for Good programme, has introduced CrystalPur ceramic water filters. The filters remove bacteria and parasites from contaminated water, thus preventing water-borne-diseases.
“The gadget does not need electricity or chemicals and has no effect on the taste of water,” says Michael Oketcho, the project manager. Oketcho explains that Uganda was selected because of its high usage of open surface water.
“Most rural people use water from lakes, rivers, wells, rain water and swamps, while in urban areas, 95% of the wells and springs contain faecal matter,” says Oketcho.
The gadget filters between four and six litres of water per hour. It is suitable for schools, households, hotels, health centres, camping teams, and disaster and emergency hit areas. It weighs less than 500g and can filter up to 7,000 litres of water (350 jerrycans) before the filter is replaced. For less than the cost of one bag of charcoal, CrystalPur fllters can deliver 7,000 litres of safe drinking water.
The filter has been tested and approved by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards.
Diageo Foundation has donated 3,500 units which have been distributed in over 150 primary and secondary schools in Kampala and Wakiso districts. The water filter programme started in October 2008 and will end in October 2009.
Source: Patrick Jaramogi, New Vision, 8 Sep 2009
CrystalPur filter. Diageo/EnterpriseWorks/VIA
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