>>If we distribute our potential market of 100 filters (serving 5,500 people daily) we want to lower waterborne illness caused deaths of a village with approximately 5,500 people by at least 50% at first and hope for it to increase exponentially over time.<<

Over what timeframe would this be measured?

And who (or what org) will do the reporting?

How often will reports be generated during the project?

thnx

Water -- it's the right issue in terms of biggest issue in alleviating global poverty.

My concern is you are very focused on the technology -- and not on the community. I believe community owernship is crucial to having any solution be widely adapted.

You may want to look at the Global Rainwater Harvesting Collective or Barefoot College websites. The approach is very community-based -- the community is involved in the selection of water engineers (to create rooftop rainwater harvesting systems) or solar engineers (to solar electrify the community).

And what is the source of water? where does it come from? who collects it? Is it the lack of filtering or lack of a proximate water source that is the biggest factor to address?

Who will be your partners on the ground in Ghana? who will provide the community outreach? How do you develop these relationships?

The people part matters -- in any business or organization.

To reach on-the-ground NGO's you may want to develop your relationship through US organizations working in water -- Water for People, Blue Planet Run Foundation, Acumen Fund, etc. Talk to those supporting water projects in Africa/Ghana and talk to them. See what they think, see who they can put you in touch with.

Ellen Fish said:

My concern is you are very focused on the technology -- and not on the community.

--- I'm not sure, but looks like the title of the course is Technology Targeted at Social Issues. So, a focus on technology seems appropriate to me, but I do understand what you are trying to point out.

The idea sounds good to me. Is the goal to implement this plan during the summer of 2007 in Ghana?

Mark Grimes said:

>>If we distribute our potential market of 100 filters (serving 5,500 people daily) we want to lower waterborne illness caused deaths of a village with approximately 5,500 people by at least 50% at first and hope for it to increase exponentially over time.<<

Over what timeframe would this be measured?

And who (or what org) will do the reporting?

How often will reports be generated during the project?

thnx

Hey Mark, the timeframe would depend on how long each loan is paid off (which would determine how often we would be distributing another filter). Since the fees will be determined by the loaner himself, we cannot determine this accurately. I did calculate that if the fee was $.50 it would take a loaner about a month to pay it off (and 2-3 months afterwards of continued feeing needed for our commission, then they can keep the filter and use it for only personal reasons if they like). So if we give 2 filters at a time and it takes a month for them to pay it off, it would take app. 50 months or 2 yrs and 2 months to distribute all 100 filters. However, $.50 is a high fee and $.25 would be a more probable fee which would then increase the time frame to 4 yrs and 4 months to provide for the entire village of 5,500 people. So over 4 yrs and 4 months let's say, we would hope to find a decrease of waterborne illness-casued deaths by 50% or more and see that decrease after everyone (we hope) use all 100 filters for a good amount of time.

Since this is a project that would start out very small with only 2 filters at first. We would document the success ourselves until we start seeing progress and continue distributing more. If there is a progress, we would show our data to W.H.O. and Thirst Relief and hope that they will see our potential and early success and want to collaborate with us in our mission. Which will possibly lead to free supplies from these organization in exchange for usage of their name with our project. Data will probably be generated by a monthly (if loans are paid off in a month) basis and become bi-annually when more filters are given out and progress does not need to be documented as closely.

Reza Jalili said:

The idea sounds good to me. Is the goal to implement this plan during the summer of 2007 in Ghana?

Unfornuately, the members of this project's group have other plans this summer but if we win, we hope to somehow figure out a way to do this during our next school year or next summer if possible.

Peter (Hostel) Pethoe said:

James Davis said:

Project: Water Filters in Africa

We are planning to send low-cost, efficient water filters to small communities in Africa (and hope to go international in the future). Our goal is that the whole community will eventually have clean water. This would lower the large amount of deaths caused by water-borne diseases and deaths of HIV/AIDS victims who need clean water for their weak immune systems.

Proposal Description: http://www.omidyar.net/group/cmp s80j/ws/Project%3A%20Water%20Fil ters%20in%20Africa/

This discussion is part of the voting process to select a winning proposal. Details here:

http://www.omidyar.net/group/cmp s80j/ws/index/

Mr. Davis: What do you mean by "We are proposing to send low-cost sand filters"??

Aren't all of the materials for producing these filters readily available locally in Africa? Do these filters have to be imported?

Also adding a layer of activated charcoal would improve the taste and smell of the filtered water. Disinfection of the water is still necessary. Here we usally use chlorine because of its residual benefits and ease of testing. If at the far end of the pipe there is no chlorine residual, it means somewhere in the system contamination that used up the chlorine oxidizer is present. Other oxidizers, such as potassium permangenate could be used (before filtering- to remove color).

For those UCSC students that prefer not to consume the beneficial effects of chlorine in water, the solution is simple: Leave an OPEN container of tap water (glass bottles might be the best) by the sink for later consumption. The chlorine gas will evaporate and dissipate. No need to purchase expensive bottled water (that might be worse than our good city water) and to throw away vast quantities of oil-based plastic containers. City water is rechlorinated twice at pump stations and reservoirs on the way up to the top of UCSC.

We're fortunate here in Santa Cruz that (unlike 3/4 of US city water systems) our water is not flouridated. So young students with growing teeth should use flouridated toothpaste, although there's probably sufficient flouride in most foods, soft drinks and beer to keep your teeth from rotting away (not counting the sugar in the gunk). Flouridating city water would be stupid, only a quart/person per day is drunk about 20,000 gallons for Santa Cruz with daily 10 to 15 million gallons production. Flouridation just pollutes the environment with toxic flouride while letting large chemical companies off the hook, they don't have to pay to dump the stuff at toxic landfills, but actually get to sell it to water providers. A big scam. Also most immigrants won't drink tap water, no one south of the border drinks tap water.

Alternate methods of disinfectation include ozone, requiring electricity, or UV which might be accomplished by exposing the filtered water to the sun's ultraviolet rays.

High turbidity drastically shorten filter times between backwash or cleaning, but would be minimal with underground well water sources not affected as much by high stirring effects of rainfall as surface sources. Large clear lakes may be an exception. The earth itself in underground water sources also performs as a filter.

Another disinfectation method very common in Mainland China is heating water to nearly boiling. Electrically heated water containers are used everywhere. However this process uses much electricity, although solar water heating might be a very practical green alternative. Aeration is another practical way to disinfect water, although not as quick as using chemicals.

With above ground water sources and occasional high turbidity, more sophisticated water purification methods such as flocculation, coagulation and sedementation may be required, all complicated and expensive, well beyond the scope of this project.

However such complicated methods require trained personnel, in short supply here in California. Those of you with some math background might want to pursue a career in Water or Wastewater Treatment. Grade 3 operators that can work shifts by themselves (Grade 2 require supervision) are in high demand and get quite well paid. As a new Grade 3 you'll probably work night shifts that give you plenty of time to study towards even higher goals. The requirements issued by the State, are getting stricter, the tests tougher, the pay higher. Once you're a 3 you'll get job offers from all over. I understand some water courses are offered at Hartnell JC in Salinas.

Ask for a tour through our City Water Treatment Plant at 715 Graham Hill Road. The same architect that designed Foothill JC, Cabrillo JC and many other schools also did this very elegant California style building.

Remember, the big battles here in California this century will be over water, or lack of it!

Good luck! PGP

Thanks for all your info Peter. Our main goal is to filter out the most important pathogens that cause diarrheal diseases (which affect adults and cause deaths of too many children) and we would like to do that with a low-cost filter that doesn't require electricity which is a cost we could not endure as of yet. So although the filteration processes you have mentioned that require electricity is important, we need to first get rid of the most important bacteria and parasites in their water at a low-cost to make a better-quality water supply before we can make it the best quality that is up to America's high-cost standards.

As for sending, yes it is made of local materials that can be found in Africa but certain parts (i.e. the pvc pipe) need to be shipped from somewhere, although I've found you can get them in Tunisia or some other countries in Africa. So when we say send, you can take it as making them available there by shipping parts over there and installing them.

Ah, so this is the big winner. I'd comment, but the thread seems to be under the supervision of people much, much smarter than me.

Way to go and good luck.

Congratulations!

A water resource that has built in a biz model.

Water Health International created a UV filtration system in rural areas in India and has created local markets for clean water at 2-3 cents for 15 clean liters of water. Also works with a local NPO that teaches locals the benefit of clean water and why to pay for what comes free from God.

http://www.waterhealth.com/