: Pure Water for the World

Monitoring household filters

By Blue Planet Network Posted on Tue 12 May 2009, almost 15 years ago

Your work is very impressive and i am wondering how you manage long-term usage of household filters?

Firstly, education and training is harder at an individual level.

Maintenance, cleaning and replacement of components are hard to assess on a household level.

You have 23 people in-country - do they regularly visit your past projects?

Thanks,
Rajesh

Monitoring household filters

By Pure Water for the World Posted on Wed 13 May 2009, almost 15 years ago

We have learned over the years that is it not about installing filters. Initially with Rotary Foundation matching grants, the focus on was on manufacturing and installing filters -- that was the goal --the number of filters installed. However, we have tried to train people that without proper education, the filters installed would not all function properly without proper education: We have developed a program of community stewards who are individuals living in a community and are especially trained to monitor and educated.

Here is how we are now working more closely with the communities:

a. Water board members or community leaders who oversee the implementation of the filters and latrines. It is their responsibility to oversee the activities, responsibilities, etc throughout the implementation of the project.
b. Community agents (1 for every 10 filters) who are responsible for checking the 10 filters they are responsible for regularly and taking any remedial action when necessary
c. hygiene committee – responsible for training their peers and school children in the importance of and technique of proper hygiene.

At each project site, a staff person is required to personally visit and inspect a certain percentage of the filters. If there are problems, it is his/her job to work with community stewards to solve the problems.

We are always striving to get better. It is our goal to fund two trained monitors to travel throughout the country to ensure that the local officials are doing the monitioring/education correctly.

By Global Water Posted on Sat 30 May 2009, almost 15 years ago

Global Water review of Pure Water for the World (PWW) application for Peer Water Exchange Team (PWX).

My information regarding PWW is limited to its PWX application content and information on its website.

Based on this information, Global Water is supportive of PWW membership (rating of 7 based on 1 - 10 scale). PWW would likely be a good fit to the PWX network, and the work done by PWW has been in areas where PWX should be engaged.

Just a few comments which PWW might want to address in future information documents:

1) The PWX application stated that "PWW is now expanding into other countries after being recognized as the leading organization dealing with providing clean, safe drinking water to the rural populations" My question related to this benchmark is what agency/organization is responsible for such "recognition", and what was their criteria?
2) The PWX application stated that "Where filters are in use, the crying from stomach pains, death, and poor school attendance are a thing of the past". From our experience, clean water makes a very significant difference, however this statement seems to be somewhat of an unrealistic "overstatement".
3) Although the PWW website gives good information about its projects, and lists many of its staff and board members, it would be helpful to have at least short bios for their leadership (I couldn't find anything, but maybe I missed it).
4) Information on the PWW website states pretty explicitly that there are no on-going costs for maintenance of slow sand filtration systems. I believe that in reality, there are on-going maintenance/monitoring/oversite requirements which need to be part of these systems. They may be low or no cost depending on support organizations/volunteerism, but for full disclosure purposes, the "no on-going costs" label seems to be an over-simplification and could be expanded upon in future write-ups.

Chris Kunze
Board Member
Global Water
Info@globalwater.org

Response to Chris Kunze

By Pure Water for the World Posted on Fri 05 Jun 2009, almost 15 years ago

Good morning,

Thank you for taking time to look into the work of PWW.

1.) The "recognition" we received was given by the health department and the water board in different regions in Honduras. At that time we were one of only a few organizations working with point of use systems and health leaders praised us for our program of education. We were invited to speak at several national meetings on our work around Honduras and we were introduced as such. We also received "recognition" by officials of USAID who also praised us for working in the remote regions of Honduras as not many organizations did. These repeated comments of praise for our work was the basis of that statement.

2.) I agree that there are many causes of water bourned diseases and one can never be sure if it is the water or hygiene education. However, with repeated claims of improved health, we believe that we have made a difference.

The reference about crying with stomach pain came from a receipient of our project. We had wanted to illustrate that living with water borne diseases can be painful. I will reread the section to see if we are being a bit over the top.

3.) Point well taken .. I can add something to our website.

4.) Again, your point is well taken. Our point is to show that unlike a system which needs electricity, there is no monthy costs -- no on going cost to maintain the filter. I can look into the phrasing of that section and make some modifications.

You have made some good points that sometime can be made only by an "outsider" When I get back from Haiti, I will take a fresh look at our website.

Thank you.