Addressing Water Quality Issues in Rural Cameroon with Household Biosand Filters

Abstract

This paper describes an ongoing collaboration between the Hope College student chapter of Engineers Without Borders – USA and the rural community of Nkuv in the Northwest Province of Cameroon related to improving drinking water quality using Manz Biosand filters. The collaboration began in 2006 and focused on developing a community-based construction and distribution model for household water treatment units. Results from microbiology testing of the constructed filters indicate that this water treatment method is effective for improving water quality in rural areas. The results also highlight the need for ongoing assessment and adapting community education programs to provide necessary training for filter construction and maintenance. The critical finding from this study is that transferring this technology in rural settings in developing countries may require years of iterative intervention and site specific adjustments to the construction and distribution model.

A critical overview of household slow sand filters for water treatment

“…Most users generally report being satisfied with the filters. The main cited reasons were cleaner water, having better taste, appearance (colour and/or opacity) and smell, easy to use and better health of family members (Duke et al, 2006;Earwaker and Webster, 2009;Fewster et al, 2004;Fiore et al, 2010;Hurd et al, 2001;Klopfenstein et al, 2011;Manz et al, 1993;Ogunyoku et al, 2011;Rayner et al, 2016;Sheikh et al, 2016;Spowart, 2012;Stauber et al, 2012b). Besides quality, water quantity is also an important aspect of a household water treatment system.…”

“…Besides the already mentioned issues, some of the more common problems reported by researchers, technicians, or users themselves were: broken parts or cracks in the filters, leading or not to leakage of water or sand and an insufficient, or lack of, education, training and, mostly, follow-up (Aiken et al, 2011;Curry et al, 2015;Duke et al, 2006;Earwaker and Webster, 2009;Fiore et al, 2010;Hurd et al, 2001;Klopfenstein et al, 2011;Mahmood et al, 2011;Ogunyoku et al, 2011;Rayner et al, 2016;Sisson et al, 2013b;Spowart, 2012;Vanderzwaag et al, 2009) . Some of the less reported problems were low-quality water, ant infestation, low flow rates, use of inadequate sand, user's negative perception or dislike of the filter, incompatibility with user's lifestyle, siphoning, and problems with storage reservoir (Aiken et al, 2011;Duke et al, 2006;Fewster et al, 2004;Fiore et al, 2010;Klopfenstein et al, 2011;Ogunyoku et al, 2011;Sisson et al, 2013b;Spowart, 2012).…”