Clean Drinking Water

Many in India do not have access to clean drinking water, especially in rural areas. Our clean drinking water projects use bio-sand filters, a simple, affordable, environmentally friendly technology that is highly effective in removing pathogens. The technology was developed by David Manz at the University of Calgary.

In 2008, PPI partnered with Friendly Water for the World, in Olympia, WA to make bio-sand filters (BSF) available to villagers in Tamil Nadu. In the past 10 years, PPI has undertaken BSF projects with seven NGOs in five states. Bio-sand filters are manufactured locally and assembled on location. Villagers are trained in the use and maintenance of the filters. There is no recurring cost and a filter lasts the lifetime of the outer concrete container.

PPI recently funded a study with GRAVIS in Rajasthan to examine the effect of bio-sand filters on health. 200 families participated in the study. GRAVIS reports that the majority of the households found the filters easy to use and maintain. There was a 67% reported reduction waterborne illness after using BSFs for drinking water. The full report is here.