Water Filter Project - BioSand Filters
Ten water filters were sent to Haiti in 2002. These bio-sand filters require no electricity. Clean water is a necessity and not a luxury. Many die from diseases contacted from dirty drinking water, while others suffer gastrointestinal disorders. This is especially hard on young children!
Good News! A Miracle!
After researching the internet for an affordable water filter technology, I discovered CAWST - The Center for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology located in Canada. This wonderful group funded a training program for us in Haiti, and on May 15, 2006, 10 Haitians learned water sanitation technology and learned how to build and maintain BioSand water filters. They became certified trainers in Haiti and are able to hold community meetings to educate communities about water sanitation. Many lives will be saved as a result of this project!!
The training was held in St. Marc at the CAWST Center from May 15-19, 2006.
These filters have housing made of concrete and are almost maintenance free! No electricity or energy of any kind is needed. Water is simply poured into the unit and the dirty water filters through 3 layers of sand which removes the pollutants, parasites, etc.
Donations are needed to purchase manufacturing kits ($400-$500 each). These kits contain everything needed to start a small manufacturing plant so that these filters can be produced locally in the villages at about $60US each (depending on the cost of cement).
MOM will be able to subsidize the water filters for the poorest of the poor with your financial support.
For more detailed information on BioSand Filters, please visit the CAWST on the web.Update - March 2008. To date 12 technicians have been trained and certified! Two technicians from Fond Verrette received their certification in August of 2007 and they need funding to support the filter project in the mountains.
The filter project in Anse-a-veau has been moved to Dupuy, about 20 minutes down the road from Anse-a-veau.
The new location is by the sea and provides sand (free) that can be used in the filter media. The area is larger and flat and has secure block buildings in which to store the filters, making it more suitable for the manufacturing of the filters. It is being headed by Pastor Romane, one of the certified technicians trained in May 2006.
Congratulations to the New Certified Technicians
Photos : New Certified Water Filter Technicians - May 06
Here's the group (I'm in the blue/white caftan) at the completion of the training! O, Happy Day!! 8 men and 2 women ready to do battle for clean water!
Today, in 2010, financial support is needed for upgrading the filter technology because of the improved methods that have been developed by CAWST.