Water Filters

This amazing project began in October 2024 when we contacted Water Matters , whose mission is to bring clean, safe water to those in need around the world, to enquire about the Sawyer Water Filters which are capable of removing 99.9999% of bacteria and, if maintained properly, can filter up to 2000 litres of water per day for up to 10-15 years!  This is a potential life saver for the many groups supported by UWCM where their main water supply is often from a river.

In January 2025, we bought 10 filters and gave one to each of the staff of UWCM and taught them how to assemble and maintain (back-wash) the filters. They, like us, were absolutely amazed at how such a small filter could transform filthy dirty river water into clean, safe drinking water within minutes!

Making sure we knew how to backflush the filters before teaching the staff!
Semu (in office) filtering water for staff
Collecting filthy water to demonstrate the filters
Teaching the staff how to use the filters

The next phase was a pilot scheme whereby WaterMatters donated 45 filters which were given to a carefully selected women’s group and UWCM trained and monitored the families in how to use and maintain the filters.  Each family had to purchase a bucket and jug to filter the water into and, as hoped and expected, it wasn’t just the family themselves who benefitted from clean, safe water, but their neighbours and friends were also able to have access to the filters.

Group member pouring passion fruit juice made with filtered water
Beneficiary proudly showing his filter
Beneficiary drinking the filtered water collected from the river.
Dirty water from the river before being filtered
Another beneficiary showing how to use the filter
Members of the group proudly showing their filters, buckets and jugs

In fact, the number of people benefitting from these 45 filters is actually 369!

After the initial training, UWCM carried out follow up visits at 2-4 weeks and 8-10 weeks to ensure that the filters were being back-washed regularly and to answer any queries.  Given below are some of the comments received during these follow up visits which show just what a huge difference the filters have made to people’s lives:

  • A beneficiary said she used to be sick with Typhoid, but since she got a filter and started drinking safe water, she no longer suffers from the disease.
  • Since we started using the filter, no-one has fallen sick because of drinking un-boiled water
  • I can now collect water from a nearby spring which I previously considered unsafe and this has cut down a lot on the time it takes me to fetch water
  • The family is happy for using the water filter, something they had never dreamed of.
  • The group members prepared passion fruit juice using the filtered water when we visited instead of sodas which was wonderful, so the people are really happy with the project
  • Improved health. No sickness due to water problem.
  • We shall also encourage groups to be take filtered water during group meetings instead of buying bottled water and this will cut on some costs.
  • No need to boil water for drinking which saves a lot of time and energy.

The next phase of this project would be to provide filters for the remaining 10 groups in Simu sub-county and we are working closely with WaterMatters to see if this can be achieved.