ARCHIVED NEWS

Project Pure Water:
Pilot project for home water filtration

‘Yuhanna’ and his wife and children live in a cinder block house not far from wind-swept sand dunes, on the edge of the “suburbs.” Water comes to their home twice a week in 55 gallon barrels pulled on a cart behind a donkey. The water is frequently contaminated, and Yuhanna, his wife, and children all suffer from parasites and diarrhea-related illnesses many times each year.

Unfortunately this is the true life story of thousands upon thousands of men, women and children in North Africa. The result: one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world. But Yuhanna and his wife don’t have much choice, as bottled water costs over $2 per gallon.

Here are a few shocking facts about water borne diseases:
• Diarrhea-related illnesses are the second biggest infectious killer world-wide (Can you guess what the first is? It’s actually pneumonia.) 80% Of all diarrhea-related deaths are children less than 2 years old
• Water filtration can reduce the incidence of infectious diarrhea by 50%

The water filtration system our project uses is simple and affordable. The parts for each filtration unit cost $25. The only tool needed to assemble one is a sharp pocket-knife.

IDEAS associates have been conducting educational sessions in which the community members assemble their own filters entirely from products which are locally available. The sessions last from 1 to 2 hours. There are two goals of the sessions: first that all participants will know why clean drinking water is so vital to their health and the health of their children; and secondly, they will be able to teach their friends and neighbors how to construct their own water filter.