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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 1.1 billion people lack access to an improved water supply worldwide. Waterborne diseases are a leading cause of illness and death in developing countries, and kill 2 million children every year. Water purification methods used in high-income nations are not economically or technically feasible in developing countries. As a result, there is a large need for inexpensive, sustainable appropriate technologies for water purification.
During the past year, our team of six University of Virginia engineering students, one commerce student, and one Peace Corps Volunteer designed a water filtration system for household use, created a framework for implementing this appropriate technology in a developing community, and introduced this technology in Tourou. During our time in the field, we completed four main tasks: filter construction, water source testing, household surveys, and a presentation at the Tourou Water Team seminar.
Ceramic filters are simple, effective, affordable, environmentally safe, recyclable, and utilize local materials and traditions. This method is based on designs by the US NGO Potters for Peace and has been proven effective throughout Latin America and Nepal.
Currently, we are requesting travel, materials, and equipment funding for one group member to travel from the United States to Tourou, Cameroon, from November 13, 2006 to February 13, 2007, and for one University of Virginia Civil Engineering student to travel to Tourou from December 16, 2006 to January 16, 2007. In Tourou, we will build a kiln, conduct field research, optimize filters, test water, test filters, and train the 32 members of the Tourou Water Team in filter production. Our objectives are to improve the flow rate of ceramic filters by building a kiln in the community and to stimulate interest for filters by carrying out a marketing campaign led by the Tourou Water Committee.
Since most potters in Tourou are women, the production of ceramic filters will provide new financial opportunities and empower women to improve their quality of life. A simple kiln can greatly enhance the fuel economy of firing, which will decrease the amount of time spent collecting wood and slow the harvesting of wood, a scarce community resource.
Upon completion of the project, we hope that the Peace Corps will integrate this technology into their training programs and manuals. As a result, an initial investment in this technology now will be crucial to promoting this technology throughout Cameroon.
Thank you for your support! We're getting closer!
Jason Manto
B.S. Biomedical Engineering
University of Virginia
jpmanto@hotmail.com
Brooke Yamakoshi
M.S. Systems and Information Engineering
University of Virginia
Ezekiel Fugate
Civil Engineering
University of Virginia
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