The Household Water Treatment and Storage Network (affiliated with the Water Institute at UNC) reported that during Stockholm Water Week, one of the more interesting news items in the session on safe water was the production of filters in East Africa. After production of ceramic pot filters in countries like Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania, a Tulip table top filter model is also now being produced in Africa.
This model consists of a filter element of diatomaceaous earth, activated carbon and silver treatment. The local production of the plastic containers reduces the cost of transport and import and creates local jobs. The filter reduces over 99.5 percent of all bacteria and has retail prices of $16 to $20 (USD). This approach was started by the social enterprise Basic Water Needs, which plans to also support local production in Tanzania and Ethiopia and, later on, countries in Asia.
Please contact Henk Holtslag for more information at henkholtslag49@gmail.com.