wfn.org | CWS Taps Affordable Clean Water Solutions in Tight World Economy

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Lesley Crosson, (212) 870-2676, media@churchworldservice.org
Jan Dragin - 24/7 - (781) 925-1526, jdragin@gis.net

Simple Bio-Sand Filters Delivering Clean Water to Cambodia's Poorest

Church World Service Taps Affordable Clean Water Solutions in Tight 
World Economy

SVAY RIENG PROVINCE, CAMBODIA - Friday, March 13, 2009- For 
Cambodians in rural Svay Rieng province, a little sand goes a long 
way in helping make water safe for consumption. According to a report 
by humanitarian agency Church World Service, residents in 19 villages 
of Svay Rieng have been significantly reducing incidences of typhoid 
and diarrhea by drinking water filtered through affordable, 
user-friendly bio-sand water filter devices small enough to place in 
a home or office space.

CWS has provided 1,216 of the filters to date in 56 Svay Rieng 
villages for use by people in some 1,900 households, schools, pagodas 
and commune halls. The effort is part of a multiple-solution Water 
and Sanitation Cooperation Project by Church World Service Cambodia 
that has benefitted  thousands of the poorest and most vulnerable 
people in remote rural areas.

The simple bio-sand water filters are a lifeline in a country where 
it's estimated that 74 percent of all deaths comes from water borne 
diseases. Despite advances in recent years made by Cambodia's public 
water utility in converting Phnom Penh's war-degraded water supply 
system into a model safe-water utility serving the capital city, 
rural areas of Cambodia still suffer from lack of clean water 
resources, sanitation, and related hygiene awareness and education.

Given the region's soaring inflation and the toll of the global 
financial meltdown on funding to aid agencies-- bio-sand water 
filters are proving a more affordable option for rural water problems 
than are larger, community well constructions.

Church World Service staff in Cambodia had initially planned to 
provide a certain number of wells and latrines in the Svay Rieng 
communities they serve, but couldn't justify suppliers' escalating 
higher prices for materials. Instead, they reduced the number of 
wells and latrines on their list and increased the number of much 
cheaper bio-sand water filters.

The cost for a typical bio-sand filter can range from US$15 to $20, 
depending on regional costs for materials. In the CWS program, those 
who receive the filters are encouraged and given training to build 
their own filter devices.

Bio-sand filters are compact, household-sized box devices, usually 
built on a concrete base, containing a layer of gravel topped by a 
layer of sand. When water is poured through the top of the device, 
it's filtered by the sand and gravel. But it's the shallow layer of 
water remaining on top of the sand which forms a biologically dynamic 
wet film, or Schmutzdecke, that makes the critical difference-by 
trapping and consuming the micro-organisms and contaminants in the 
water. The filtered water flows out through a pipe at the base of the 
device into a clean container for safe consumption.

Developed in 1990, bio-sand filters are increasingly being used by 
humanitarian agencies in developing countries. Research indicates 
that under optimal operating conditions and maintenance, bio-sand 
filters can remove most E. coli, worms and parasites, iron and 
manganese, and other toxicants from contaminated water. *

Non-governmental organization Church World Service, with relief and 
development offices in Cambodia since 1979, was one of the first aid 
agencies permitted to work there after the fall of the Khmer Rouge. 
In 2005 CWS launched its comprehensive water, sanitation, health and 
hygiene cooperation project for vulnerable, under-served residents in 
two Svay Rieng districts near the Cambodia-Vietnam border, in 
partnership with Cambodia's Provincial Departments of Rural 
Development (PDRD). The effort is part of the CWS international Water 
for All initiative.

Bio-sand water filters are fast becoming star offerings.

In Thmei Village, about 400 villagers- including women, teachers and 
1,384 students at Kokir Primary School- attended trainings on 
bio-sand filter use and maintenance and clean water and sanitation 
practices. CWS staff subsequently monitored 156 households and found 
that those drinking water from the filters experienced a significant 
decrease in diarrhea and typhoid, according to CWS Cambodia Country 
Representative Josephine Barbour.

In village commune halls, the water filters are available to 
everyone. Reports one commune hall clerk, "Now our commune stop [sic] 
buying pure drinking water from the market. When we organize meetings 
or other events, we can use filtered water. So we can save some money 
for other purposes."

Villagers who had bio-sand filters now have spread the word about the 
dangers of drinking unclean and un-boiled water and other poor 
hygiene practices-and, at requests from their neighbors, are sharing 
their water filter like a fountain of life.

Church World Service, which also conducts agriculture, education and 
livelihoods development programs throughout Cambodia in concert with 
local partners, is now planning to expand its water and sanitation 
program in 20 more villages.

Church World Service is an international relief, development, refugee 
protection and advocacy agency funded by public donations, grants and 
through the support of 35 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican 
denominations and communions in the U.S.

How to help: Contributions to help bring clean water and other 
self-help assistance to families and communities around the world can 
be made online (www.churchworldservice.org/donate), by phone 
(800.297.1516) or by mailing to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, 
Elkhart, IN 46515.

> ###

> Sources:

* "Filtration - Household Technologies," Center for Affordable Water 
and Sanitation Technology,
http://www.cawst.org/index.php?id=128#BSF

"Biosand filter," Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colo.,
http://www.fortlewis.edu/academics/school_arts_sciences/physics_engineering/ewb_webpage/Current%20Web%20Page%20Supporting%20Docs/BSF/Basic%20info%20on%20BSF.htm