Safe Water for the "Other Half"

My Drinking Water Crisis

During very rare occasions, our health officials advise us to boil our water before drinking. Normally, this occurs after our water source may have become accidentally contaminated. In the Congo, all water is contaminated and requires treatment before drinking. So how did I purify my water for drinking?

Back in March a year ago, I tested the water sources in my living community in Kananga. We found some sources to be highly contaminated as evidenced by this picture. As a result, I knew that the local water must be treated before drinking.

Instead of our boiling water to purify it, we filtered our water for drinking at our house. Routinely, we requested our water from the best water source in the area. And we used a ceramic candle water filter. It worked well and I never got sick.

One day during my last trip, I decided to clean out the ceramic candle water filter system. (I had too much time on my hand!) As I was cleaning it, I broke the heart of the system, the ceramic candles. Immediately afterward, I remembered from my water quality testing class that ceramic candles can be easily damaged or broken. Now, how do we purify our water for drinking? Do we boil or filter our water?

Well, we did not have a bio sand filter that was not operational at the house. And it would take about 20-25 days to make it be fully functional to purify water for drinking. So, we turned to our LifeStraw Family filter. Within two minutes it was ready to purify our water for drinking. Our drinking water crisis that I created was solved.We were blessed since I had a number of LifeStraw Family filters on-hand for familiarization and evaluation.

Congolese families are not so blessed. Soon they will be blessed through our water project which will provide LifeStraw Families to those with contaminated water sources. In next year, Congo Helping Hands will introduce 600 LifeStraw Family water filters. Also, we will introduce about 300 bio sand water filters.

Waiting on Mobile Money Transfer in Congo

Our Congo Water projects are depending upon mobile money transfer in Congo.  Initially, we plan to offer water filters, Life Straw Family and Bio-Sand, under a microcredit plan via mobile money transfer.  In the end, we would like to offer Grundfos LIFELINK or a microcredit version.

We are waiting on M-PESA to come to Congo.  Hopefully, the owners of Vodacom Congo can reach agreement soon.  If not, we hope the Vodacom Group buys out Congo Wireless Network.

Therefore, we are betting that mobile money can transform Congo!

The Congo Water Project Will Serve The “OTHER HALF”

Only half of the Congolese population have access to safe clean drinking water.  Over 30 million people struggle for safe clean drinking water EVERYDAY.  The Congo Water Project Will Serve The “OTHER HALF”!

The project will provide safe and clean water to rural community.  Access to safe clean drinking is most critical in rural Congo.  It was reported that three out of four rural Congolese do not have access to safe clean drinking water.  Overall, only half the population have safe clean drinking water.  Community health leaders say, “Access to clean water is our number one need.”  Water will improve health, improve food production, promote a higher standard of living, and improve education.

The Congo Water project is a partnership of the Rotary Clubs of Indianapolis Northeast along with other five clubs (District 6560)  and Kananga (DR Congo, District 9150).  Congo Helping Hands, an Indiana-based nonprofit will be the project manager and “Cooperating Organization”.  We are seeking additional partners to join and support the Congo Water project.

The OVERALL project goal is to provide safe, clean, and near water.  Initial water quality test conducted in March 2011 disclosed both coliform and e.Coli bacteria present in existing water sources. 

The project will provide water filter systems to provide safe and clean household water for drinking and cooking.  We plan to test the acceptance and use of the Bio Sand Filter and Family Life Straw Filter.

Also, the project will provide water wells to bring safe and clean water closer to rural villages and communities.  With the help of a Rotary District 6560 grant, we purchased a LS-300 drilling rig and two Basic Utility Vehicles (BUVs) for transporting supplies and equipment.  Drilling operations will start later in 2011.

Help us Serve the “Other Half”.  Come partner with us and make a difference!

  Download Congo Water Project - Flyer - May 2011