Water filters for families in Mozambique

The project is based in the rural area in Northern Mozambique in the Monapo District that has a population of 305.000 people. The water coverage in 2007 was 24,6%, mostly concentrated in the district town Monapo.
The families in the project area face large problems with regard to water and sanitation and diseases. More than 80% of people experiencing severe problems with regard to basic diseases such as diarrhoea and even cholera, cough, malaria and other diseases.

Current status

A lot of development work has been done to obtain good quality Siphon Filters against a costprice of € 6,- and a shop price of about € 8,-.
Fieldtesting in East-Africa has shown very positive results and a clear decline in diarrhoea and other water-related diseases. The filter is ready for marketing in Mozambique. The distribution of the filters is taking place through social entrepeneurs, who agree with a limited profit margin. By securing these local distribution networks, and by which people have a job, the local economies can flourish.
ADPP Mozambique will implement the project in cooperation with SHIPO and Rural Energy Foundation (REF) in Mozambique.

The Siphon Filter is a promising HWT option. It is tested in different countries and - for example - in Tanzania the results are very positive. Families using this filter show a clear decrease in diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases.
This means that families using a Siphon Filter do not have to worry about travelling many kilometres a day to purchase water or getting sick from contaminated drinking water. Therefore these family members that previously collected water by walking great distances (mostly woman and children) will be able to spent time on different activities, such as going to school or work. Neither do all family members have to worry about getting sick (by infected water) and can focus on activities that improve the family's economic situation.

The goal is to lower the risk of water-borne diseases among 800 families and thereby elevate their economic activity and income. Also, family members do not need to travel big distances daily to purchase safe drinking water any longer. Less children will get sick and can therefore go to school/preschool.
Next to that, family members can focus on other activities, instead of travelling to purchase water or being unable to fulfil these activities (work, for example) because of diseases.

Goals

• 800 Siphon Filters purchased
• 800 families (5.600 people) with a Siphon Filter at their ho
• Improved health for the 800 families
• A higher work/school attendance and income for the 800 famil

The project is highly sustainable because a simple investment of about € 8,- can have a great positive effect on a family. As written above, family members that currently lack access to safe drinking water frequently experience water-borne diseases. Unsafe water is generally collected from rivers and unprotected water points. Even if there is a safe water point, there is a risk that water is contaminated during transportation or while being stored in unclean reservoirs. The World Health Organisation (WHO) advises to treat water at the ultimate destination, the so called 'point of use' by using Home Water Treatment (HWT). HWT's have proven to be very effective to improve people's health (and) show a 60 times return of investment.
After the first investment, replacement filters can be purchased at about € 2,- a piece.

With an investment of € 8,000 on filters, at least 800 families (5.600 people) are expected to experience an improved health situation, are able to go to school or work more often and will be able to improve their economic situation.