Clean drinking water for schools and households in Uganda – Gold Standard

January 31, 2020

The main goal of the project is to distribute water treatment systems to low-income households and schools in Uganda. The climate benefit is because the consumption of wood and coal to boil water is decreasing.

Lack of access to clean drinking water and insufficient sanitation are common causes of disease that cause over 2.2 million annual deaths worldwide. In Uganda, 40 percent of people boil water for purification and many do not treat the water at all. The water is often boiled over an open fire that requires wood, and in turn leads to degradation of forest. Burning on an open fire also has a negative effect on the health of many people.

 

The water treatment in the schools consists of a filter and a water tank with a capacity of 450 to 1000 liters. The filter purifies the water in three steps. In a first step, the coarsest pollutants in the water are filtered out. Step two uses an activated carbon filter that absorbs the smallest particles and volatile organic pollutants. This ensures that the water does not smell or taste strange. In the last step, a UV filter is used that kills microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and pathogens. The filters are replaced every six months to ensure smooth operation and water quality. Some schools also have challenges with littering plastic bottles. With the water treatment system, plastic waste in schools is also reduced. The project developer works with local organizations to adapt the program and technology to local conditions.

 

“Ever since we got the water filter container, our children no longer have waterborne diseases. It also saves money because we do not have to boil water.”
- Francis Epyaka Otai, Mirembe Junior School

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