Rwanda: Ceramic Water Filter Project 2010

Film Production: Debra Brosseuk
Cooperative Project between Potters Without Borders, KIST (Kigali Institute of Science and
Technology, UNICEF, and the KACYIRU Pottery Cooperative.

Guy Mbayo K. (Unicef WASH Program)
Burt Cohen (Potters Without Borders)
Phocus Ntayombya (Unicef WASH Program)
Eugene Dusingizumuremyi (KIST Project Director)
Vice Rector John Mshana (KIST)
Dr. Jane Muita (Deputy Representative for UNICEF)
Honorable Minister Collette Ruhamya
Jean Paul (Cooperative moderne de potterie President)
Mugisha Esri (KIST Filter Produstion Officer)

Clean drinking water is a basic human right
many rwandans collect unclean water from streams and rivers,
80% of disease in Rwanda is water borne
Inadequate water supply exacerbates prevalent illness such as
malaria, respiratory illness, diarrheal disease, and malnutrition
simple household treatment of water is available.
A ceramic filter serves as a baterial barrier producing clean drinking water.

Eugene Dusingizumuremyi:
“My name is Eugene Dusingizumuremyi,
I am lecturer at KIST , I’m also incharge of this project of Ceramic Water Filters. These water filters are going to help Rwandans to avoid water borne disease because most of the people are using water from swamps, water from rivers without any prior treatment; then those filters will help to remove biological contaminants so that people will be having safe driking water.”

Vice Rector John Mshana (KIST):
“We are inagurating this initiative of bringing the technology of water filters to Rwanda. We know that in Rwanda about 80% of diseases that afflict Rwandans are water borne, so really we have a challange in Rwanda in terms of caring about the health of Rwandans. To look about water and the center of water that we are drinking, that is why KIST has parterners with local potters and Potters Without Borders to bring this technology of simple water filters to Rwanda, we believe it will go a long way to providing safe water to the people of Rwanda. Statistics show that only 38% of Rwandans get clean water, so there is a long way in order to reach 100%  that is … 100% of all Rwandans are entitled to clean and safe drinking water, so our main objective of KIST and the partners is to continue towards this problem by bringing this technology of filters which will enable Rwandans to have clean water. The health statistics are clear…”

Phocus Ntayombya (Unicef WASH Program):
“… Dr Phocus Ntayombya I work for UNICEF the WASH program. WASH is Water Sanitation and Hygene. Our major work involves in supporting many schools for children, but also communities, but also pays a lot of attention to health institutions, health centres, to make sure we can folow the child from home to school to helth centers and back home safe. Our major interest in this ceramic filters project is really to take advantage of the low cost sustainable technology which can be used. Its adaptable, to the conditions here in Rwanda, we have clay, and most importantly we have local communities who have good potters, you know they have wonderful skills in making pottery, so what we did, we have now decided to partner with them to make sure we can produce the ceramic water filters, with the advantage to you know provide safe drinking water, but also address their major preocupation of raising their income, you know they have been left behind, they are poor….”

Dr. Jane Muita (Deputy Representative for UNICEF):
“… You can put the water, dirty water, through and at the end the child drinks it and its safe. We can bring water with taps but its not safe, it still has to go through the process of removing the organisms that kill children. So for me today, I have something to say, because innovative technology is our business the people that have the knowledge must transmit it to be used, in Africa we cant wait for the big plants that can make sure that the water is safe by that time many children have died, so i acknowledge the support of organizations like Potters Without Borders and most significantly of governments represented here by the minister….”

Honorable Minister Collette Ruhamya:
“… despite the simple design and the absence of chemicals the ceramic water filter has an efficiency of  99.88%, this is an amazing acchievement. the fact that these filters can be easily made from low cost local materials, with the additional advantage of having low cost replacement filters regular available, this technology is highly suitable for helping to access clean potable water in Rwanda.”