The Problem
Diarrhea is the third leading cause of diarrhea among children under five in Burundi and accounts for 13% of childhood deaths. Evidence shows that drinking contaminated water is the major cause of this challenge.
Evidence from the north-western part of the country shows that 25% of water sources are contaminated by pathogenic germs and water stored in households gets contaminated in up to 75% of cases, suggesting that water is further contaminated during transport and storage due to poor hygiene practices.
Unlike urban households that are supplied with treated piped water, water treatment is rare in rural areas.
Our Solution
We treat drinking water using our locally produced chlorine and ensure water quality monitoring in rural areas with the aim to reduce the prevalence of diarrheal diseases.
We use two approaches to treat drinking water:
1. Use of point-of-water chlorine dispensers for non-piped water points
2. Cleaning and Disinfection of piped water systems
Point-of-Water Chlorine Dispenser
The Chlorine Dispenser System is an innovative way of treating water using a predetermined solution of Sodium Hypochlorite at communal water points.
These are the main components of the Dispenser system:
- Chlorine dispensers installed next to communal water points
- Incessant community education by local community promoters to encourage take-up and proper use
- Ongoing supply of chlorine refills.
This technology was initially developed in 2007 by Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) and researchers from Harvard University and the University of California Berkeley and has been proven to be the most effective water treatment alternative.
Chlorine is by far the most commonly used disinfectant in the world. World Health Organisation estimates that chlorine kills 99.9% of pathogenic microorganisms in water reliably and protects water from potential recontamination during collection and storage for up to 72 hours. A chlorine dispenser installed next to a water point offers maximum convenience to users of this free service.
What’s more. Dispensers eliminate the need to burn firewood to boil water, which is the commonest water treatment option in rural settings. This allows them to not only effectively reduce their carbon footprint, but also to save time spent by women on housework.
Our Intervention Contributes to Achieving Five
Sustainable Development Goals
Our Key Metrics
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