BioSand Filter - Water Treatment in Haiti

Following the email on the Household Water Treatment (HWT) sub-group, I would like to put you in touch with a few organizations working in the area of HWT in Haiti.

CAWST has provided training and continuous follow-up support on HWT to local and international organizations and agencies in Haiti for the past 7 years.

The biosand filter is one of the technologies that has gained significant interest from many organizations and donors.. We have estimated over 20,000 filters (100,000+ people) currently use them all over Haiti, mostly in homes, but also schools and clinics.

The biosand filter is not suitable for onset emergency settings, but has proven itself in the past 8 years (see previously attached or here online)  in both rural and urbain settings. There are also many local micro-entrepreneurs in the country capable of producing these filters.

One aspect that should be considered in a HWT strategy is the treatment against protozoan oocysts (such as cryptosporidium – which, I heard, was in PaP) which can be illuminated by proper filtration but not by standard chlorination.

In the rural household context, the filters cost about $35-55 (all overhead and follow-up costs included). There is no operation or maintenance costs.. The expected lifetime of the filter is 20 years.. (the oldest operating ones I have seen so far is 8 years).

Here are some technical factsheets or some HWT technologies which could also help in the initial discussion of the HWT sub-group:

Here is a list of ‘competent’ organizations in Haiti (on the biosand filter):

Other organisations who had implemented filters in Haiti – currently or in the past (qualite not verified by CAWST) :