Bio-Sand Water Filters in Karnataka
Pragathi, Mysore, Karnataka
Contact: Mr. Sharanappa
Dates: February 2023- February 2026
Total Budget: Rs. 16,37,980
2025 Funding: Rs. 5,09,080 ($6,134)
In the first year of this three-year project to provide safe and clean drinking water for under privileged tribal people, Pragathi manufactured 103 bio sand filters (BSFs) and installed them in 103 beneficiary homes in Chilkahalli tribal village in Nanjangud Taluk, Mysore District. Main occupations of the villagers: Agricultural activities, working as daily labors in landlord’s field.
Typically, Pragathi can make 4 BSF units per day and the units are cured for 15 days before starting to scrub and paint filters. Filter media (rocks of different thickness and sand and water) are washed several times and put in separate bags for transporting to the village. The BSF units are placed in a suitable location in beneficiary homes and assembled with filter media.
An awareness camp was held to provide information about the Bio-sand water filters and how daily use can improve their health. Proper way to maintain the filter was explained and demonstrated to them. 690 family members, including parents and children benefited by having pure drinking water. Each family paid Rs. 450/- for the filter and water jug.
Pragathi staff visits the beneficiaries once each month to check the filters and measure the outflow of the water to ensure that the filter mechanism is working properly. The beneficiaries are very happy to receive the filters for clean drinking water and have conveyed their greetings to the PPI and our donors.
In the second-year, bio-sand filter project, 117 families (with 735 direct beneficiaries) will be given bio-sand water filter each in Kothanahalli village, Nanjangud district.
The filter production work was started in September after the rainy season with about 3 filters being made each day and cured with water for about 14 days to increase its rigidity and strength. The filter media include sand, rocks of different thickness and sizes are washed in their workshop and packed in the polybags for assembling at the village install site.
The beneficiaries of Kothnahally village are being educated about the benefits of using filtered water and being trained on the daily usage and maintenance of filters. All of them will be getting the filters by the end of this year.
In it’s third and final year, 97 families (with 597 extended beneficiaries) were provided bio-sand filter in Naganapura village, Nanjangud district. Main Occupation of the villagers include agricultural activities and working as daily labors in landlord’s field. This Safe Drinking Water Project was implemented to address the critical issue of unsafe drinking water in the village, aiming to provide the community with access to clean and safe drinking water. Onsite training was conducted for Inhabitants on water sanitation, hygiene practices and usage of the bio-sand filters effectively. After the filters were made and cured, they were transported along with cleaned rocks and sand to the village and assembled on site. Filters, a diffuser box, cap, and 25-liter water cans were supplied. Also, they collected 450/- from each beneficiary as a contribution. This amount will be used to monitor and maintain the filters. The project has achieved its goals by improving health, reducing waterborne diseases, and raising the overall quality of life for the tribal inhabitants.
2023 Report 2024 Report 2025 Report
