Clean Drinking water. It’s something we all need to live. But how often do you really think about it? Do you take it for granted? Has it always been a given that you’ll have it when you need it? What if your water looked like this? What if instead of keeping you healthy it made you sick?
The sad truth is that one in eight children in Haiti don’t live to see their fifth birthday because of illnesses they get drinking dirty water, and more infants die of preventable waterborne diseases than in any other country in the western hemisphere. The basic need of clean drinking water is not being met, and it’s the reason that over half of the hospital beds in Haiti are filled with people suffering from waterborne diseases.
All Hands is responding to this need by producing biosand water filters as a simple solution to provide safe, clean drinking water. Biosand filters are built from local materials – concrete, sand and gravel – and though a natural process these filters form an active layer that removes bacteria, viruses, and worms – the carriers of the most common waterborne diseases in Haiti –along with cholera. They’re small enough to put in homes and schools, and can filter water from common sources like rivers, pumps and wells for ten years or more. When we install a filter in a home, it’s great to know that a decade from now that family will still have access to safe, clean drinking water.
We’re installing filters in schools, a cholera treatment center, orphanages, and the homes of local families. Our goal is to build one hundred filters by the end of the year, and to distribute them to families and communities in need, giving clean water to over 500 people. We’re ready to make it happen, and we need your help.
A gift of 20 dollars gives a person clean water for 10 years or more, while 100 dollars sponsors an entire filter, providing clean water to a family in need. This holiday season you have the opportunity to change someone’s life. People should never have to be without safe, clean drinking water.
Due to an overwhelming response, we’ve exceeded out goal and funded 140 filters and have closed our funding portal! If you were interested in supporting our Biosand Filter program, please consider making a donation to our Disaster Response Fund.
bret tower says:
Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 12:22pm
I find these filters fasinating and inexpensive….correct me if im wrong ,but it said they last for a household over 10 years ? are they self cleaning ? I have a fiancee in Haiti and we have talked of helping her people..I am in Washington and onw several plumbing companies. I am also a past water treatment specialist. I was supposed to come see the country now but the political unrest has cancelled my trip thus far…..is there a site to study this filter and /or can we work together …..she accesses the tent city up on the hill in petionville country club ,takes rice and beans once in awhile. Inform me on needs and your opinion on my suggestion to work together on filter distribution. I am not onsite like you and have no idea of the logistics….Kindest Regards B
Bryan says:
Monday, March 7, 2011 at 1:50pm
My family and I lived in Haiti for about 3 years. We used the Bio-Sand filter for our everyday drinking water needs. We even used it to make baby formula for our infant son. It worked great.
I also installed some in our local feeding center and in some local homes. Everyone that used it saw almost immediate positive results. They had less stomach cramps, a decrease in diarrhea and overall improvement in health. The most important aspect was that everyone loved the taste of the water.This was because the filter doesn’t change the flavor, it only treats the pollutants. When using chemical treatment or even distillation, the taste of the water is changed and people are less likely to drink it.
I can’t say enough about the effectiveness of the Bio-Sand filter. If you have the opportunity to get involved, do so!
PS – I have no vested interest with CAWST. I have only seen the benefits of the filters and hygiene education.
Stef says:
Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 5:37pm
Hi Bret, Biosand filters are indeed an economical household water treatment solution implemented around the world. CAWST (the Center for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology) is a worldwide technical advisor in this field and provided the filter design and training curriculum that we used to launch our program. Basic background info on the filters can be found at http://www.cawst.org/en/themes/biosand-filter
Once installed the filters require moderate periodic maintenance, but no additional chemical or material inputs. For more info, please contact me at stef at hands dot org.
Stef
Project Director – Project Leogane
Connie says:
Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 9:28pm
I am very interested in your filters I have a mission in Aquin Haiti and have 26 orphaned children from the earthquake that our organization Haitian Helping Haitian Organization is caring for and I am buying Culligan water for them now because of the Cholorea and they were getting sick anyway. I would love to know what it would take to get one of these filters at our Mission house. I also have a project that we have just put up 50 concreat houses in Aquin for my families that have always lived in grass huts and some displaced families from the quake. This would be awesome for these families as well. i appreciate any information you can give. God bless for all you do. Connie
Bahrishum says:
Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 1:32pm
Great work! I was wondering if you need any help?
Lena Åslund says:
Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 3:34am
I take this too my classroom and show my pupills and discuss the need of cleen water!! thank you Moa for seending me this!
Henri says:
Friday, December 24, 2010 at 6:51am
Hi Connie,
Thank you for your interest in the filter program. We’re focusing our work in Leogane at the moment, but I can point you towards Dlo Pwop Pou Ayiti – http://www.cleanwaterhaiti.org – who have been producing filters in St. Marc for almost ten years. If you get in touch with them they will probably know if there’s anyone producing filters in your area.
Merry Christmas!
William62 says:
Friday, February 4, 2011 at 11:57am
Keep up the good works!