Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) has over the years been involved in technology development and transfer. In this regard, the Centre for Innovation and Technology Transfer (CITT) has won several local and international awards; in recognition of innovative technologies aimed at addressing the needs of rural and peri-urban population. Therefore the vision of KIST senior management is not only to maintain the achievements but to continuously undertake research and development activities that address the challenges of the society.

Amongst recent research and development initiatives is partnership between KIST and cooperative of local potters to develop water filters. The objective of the partnership is twofold. One is to adapt the colloidal silver ceramic water filter technology, and two, to transfer the knowledge to local potters and communities. Through this partnership, ceramic water filters shall be produced locally. As part of the initiative, a demonstration factory for colloidal silver ceramic water filter shall be built at Kacyiru Sector, Gasabo District.

The impact of this initiative is obvious: to reduce considerably the spread of water borne diseases and mortality rate among Rwandan population. Further, the technology transfer to the rural population will enable Rwanda to meet vision 2020, EDPRS and MDGs health targets.

WHAT IS SILVER CERAMIC WATER FILTER?

Ceramic water filter is a household water treatment unit. It is made out of clay, mixed with saw dust in order to make it light. The filter is then burnt; leading to pores resulting from burnout material saw dust. The pores facilitate the filtration process. Furthermore, once the ceramic filter is burnt, it is also coated with colloidal filter, which disinfects the water during the filtration process. Suffice it to say that silver ceramic filter removes only microbiological pathogens and does not remove chemical contaminants.

Photo of Colloidal Silver Ceramic Filter and Plastic Receptacle

In the meantime, it has been established that silver ceramic filter has capacity to improve health conditions of children and adults in Africa, Asia and South America. The cost of silver ceramic water filter ranges from UD$15 to US$25 in Africa. For instance, in Kenya the cost of one complete unit is 1400Ksh, which is around US$18. In October 1998, Hurricane Mitch devastated Central America, causing over 3,000 deaths in Nicaragua alone. An estimated 18 percent of the population of Nicaragua was affected by Mitch, and water and wastewater systems serving 804,000 people suffered over US$560 million in damage. The Unites States provided US$22 million in immediate humanitarian and food aid, and an additional US$8 million to start reconstruction activities in health, agriculture, and micro-finance. In this connection, silver ceramic water filter was investigated to be a solution to the drinking water at the household level. The filter investigated is 31 cm in diameter, 24 cm high, holds 7.1 Litres of water, and is shaped “like a coned flower pot as shown in the picture.

1. In the first use of the filter, the concentration of colloidal silver is not above the WHO and USEPA standards;
2. The concentration is significantly higher in the first use than the second, however, and it is recommended to maintain the policy of disposal of water from the first use of the filter.
3. Filters of factory flow rates range between 1.0 and 2.0 Litres/hour, and laboratory flow rates up to 3.0 Litres /hour;
4. Filters remove 100 percent of total coliform and fecal coliform.
   
5. Application of colloidal silver does not affect the filtration rate within the filter, or the conductivity or pH of the finished water.
6. The majority of the filtration occurs through the sides of the filter, and thus it is important to ensure application of colloidal silver within this area.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Between 2001 and 2006, Rwanda’s poverty rate decreased from 60.2% up to 56.9% of the population. The infant mortality rate (IMR) declined by 19.6%. The under-five mortality rate (U5MR) fell by 22.4% . Nevertheless, the infant mortality rate is still high comparing to national targets of vision 2020, EDPRS (Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy) and MDGs.

Source of Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/waterforsudan/ 3471748230/

Silver ceramic water filters can be a solution at the household level because most of Rwandans in rural and urban areas are still drinking untreated water from surface water bodies, which have high turbidity and microbiological contamination. Therefore, the technology of colloidal silver ceramic water filters, able to remove microbial contamination and turbidity, can be embraced by local potters to improve their welfare and health conditions. Rwanda and any other countries in sub-Sahara Africa, the sources of drinking water for the majority of citizens are not 100% safe. In addition, the containers used to fetch and store drinking water at the household level are not clean enough. This is the other cause of water borne disease for under-five year children and adult. To make sure that children and adults have enough clean water in their families, they need colloidal silver ceramic water filters, which are able to filter between 2-3 litres/hour and remove 99% of biological contaminants from polluted water.