In the community of Kaberamaido, Uganda, Surge has partnered with local Ugandan organization Prince of Peace for Orphans and Widows (POPOW) to provide long-lasting, sustainable, locally sourced solutions. Ceramic filters, manufactured by Spouts of Water, were distributed to 160 families. We recently received a testimonial from Florence Ringe, Project Director at POPOW, highlighting the importance of these filters and the change they have been able to bring in just a few months.
Here are her words:
“We were so amazed this afternoon, when we tested water from a community borehole, which produces brown and oily water [pictured below]. This water source was supposed to produce clean water for over 200 households, but because of the water that comes out of it, the community abandoned it and now consumes water from an alternative well which is equally not as safe.
The water source committe took us to this water source, and we decided to take a sample of the water to test and see if the water filters can make it better for consumption. It was so amazing to see clean and purified water after the filtration. We called the district community development and the district education officers to witness. They were so amazed they decided to buy the filters with cash at that very moment. After buying a filter for his family, the district community development officer said, ‘I will come for two more filters, one for my mother and one for my aunt. My neighbor will also need two.’”
POPOW identified key community members in need of a filter and developed a micro-finance program. Members of the community go through a Surge-funded program where they are trained, given a soft loan and are provided a filter on credit. Money that comes back to the community goes toward purchasing more filters.
Without these filters, families in Kaberamaido would not have access to clean water. This technology is simple yet efficient — and most importantly local.
Here’s how it works: A ceramic pot created from clay, rice husk and water is created and then pressed into the correct form. After being fired in a kiln, it is painted with silver nitrate, which kills the bacteria in contaminated water. The porosity of the filter allows the water to flow through, providing families with access to clean water.
Stories like this inspire us to keep working so that we can ensure all people have access to clean water. Here at Surge, we believe that access to clean water and sanitation is a human right. Please consider making a donation so that we can continue to bring life-altering solutions to communities around the world.
Written by Ashley Quinlan, Field Program Development Intern at Surge for Water.
