Ceramic Water Filter Project
Accessing clean water through locally made and resourced ceramic water filters
The mission of the Ceramic Water Filter Project is to increase access to clean drinking water in rural communities in heavily populated regions in Western Kenya. The social enterprise manufactures and distributes locally-produced, low-cost ceramic water filters that remove 99.88% of
The capacity of the filter plant is 10,000 to 12,000 water filters a year and the filter lasts three years with simple maintenance. The manufacturing plant employs community members and disseminates public health awareness about water.
Water in most of rural Kenya is collected from unclean sources like ponds and streams. In 2008, UNICEF declared that more than 45% of people lack access to a safe water source. With over a million families without potable water in Kenya, 60% of rural village deaths are caused by illnesses related to unsafe water and sanitation. The vast majority of these deaths are children under the age of five (Ministry of Health, Kenya)
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In 2009, the Ceramic Filter manufacturing plant was built through the leadership of Joshua Machina and Common Ground for Africa where most water is collected from unclean sources. Waterborne diseases are prevalent in Kenya with cholera and other waterborne pathogens in drinking water sources. The rate of exposure is extremely high. The water is not only contaminated at the basins and pumps where water is collected, but the containers are almost always “found,” second-hand objects, and possibly used for oil, fertilizer or wastes.
The sustainable social enterprise also educates the community on water health.
Donating to the Ceramic Water Filter Project is a great way to support a local social enterprise while bringing access to clean water to those most vulnerable who may not be able to afford it.
Donating $25 can provide a ceramic water filter for a family with a child with sickle cell anemia.
Donating $50 can provide 2 ceramic water filters for a children’s home.
Donating $100 can provide 4 ceramic water filters to a school or clinic.
For more information regarding volunteering opportunities supporting the ceramic water filter plant, clean water, water education and public health, please visit Common Ground for Africa.