Point-Of-Use Drinking Water Treatment in the Developing World: Community Acceptance, Project Monitoring and Revision

Abstract

Abstract - Project design and implementation of water treatment technologies in the developing world often overlooks potential pitfalls because: 1) technical experts focus on technologies without considering cultural acceptability and 2) projects lack monitoring, evaluation, and project revision. Over the past five years, Engineers Without Borders (EWB) at the UC-Davis partnered with the Rural Agency for Sustainable Development (RASD) in Nkokonjeru, Uganda, to implement sustainable point of use (POU) water systems. POU systems (i.e. Filtron clay pot filters, solar disinfection, chlorine treatment, and colloidal silver) were tested and implemented at RASD’s training center in Nkokonjeru. While all of the systems effectively removed pathogens, cultural appropriateness and education were the most important drivers of project acceptance. After a one-year assessment, it was determined that community preference was driven by transparency of treatment method, cost, stigma, and ease of use. Clay pot filters were preferred because of ease of use and physical particle removal capabilities. However, high cost, lack of local production and transportation difficulties dictated that their use was not sustainable. Biosand filters were introduced as an alternative and although originally deemed to be too complicated, they have been accepted by the community and continue to be manufactured by RASD in Nkokonjeru.