The Fishing communities in some landing sites in Serere District, Eastern Uganda have received bio-sand filters to help address the community’s concerns on clean water supply, sanitation, and hygiene.

The bio-sand filter mechanism is a simple household water treatment device. The bio-sand filter consists of different sizes of stones and pebbles, coarse sand, fine sand, and activated charcoal arranged in layers inside a food-grade container that helps purify water.

It is estimated that about 1.1 billion people globally do not have access to safe drinking water in the developing world, a situation that is resulting in approximately 1.8 million deaths each year from diarrheal diseases like cholera.

“The target is to have a bio-sand filter mechanism in every household for them to be secured of safe, clean, and potable water in the community,” said Andrew Auruku a lead trainer and developer of Bio sand Filters in Teso.

Auruku noted that, when people have healthy water, their life changes, children go to school, girls are staying in school while others are not spending three hours collecting water for drinking from boreholes.

This initiative will help communities that have surface water, streams and rivers make it easy for them to get water and then treat it with their bio-sand filter.”

One of the beneficiaries, Michael Olego from Mulondo landing site in Serere who adopted the method of bio-sand filter making, said the project is far too cheaper than buying a commercial water filter.

He narrated that before the mechanism was introduced to them, members of the community used to rely mainly on deep wells, hand pumps, and rainwater.

“The project provides low-cost, socially acceptable, and appropriate technology to address problems on poor access to clean water supply,” he narrated.

Olego also notes the bio-sand filters have also helped conserving the environment.

“We used to cut trees to get firewood and charcoal every day to help in boiling water so having the bio-sand filters helps us keep our trees. If we preserve the trees, our environment wins.”

John Engwau of Mugarama landing site in Serere District told this website that the water filter that has been installed has helped to eliminate diarrhoea.

He added that school absenteeism has dropped by nearly two-thirds now that children aren’t getting sick as frequently.

He also noted that part of the money initially used for treatment is being saved to help in paying school fees and feeding their families with a good balanced diet.

Editha Amongin an elderly woman from Mukura Town Council in Ngora District also said that the bio-sand filter has saved from the burden of spending money for buying water guard.

She noted since when the filter was installed she has also saved much time she used to waste to boil water and conserve the environment.