SI-Feasibility assessment of selected point of use water treatment systems applicable for rural households of the Rwenzori region, Uganda

UG2022SIN359A103 01/09/2022 - 31/08/2024 In rural Uganda, most people drink water from unprotected water sources such as hand-dug wells, springs or streams. All drinking water needs to be treated before use to eliminate harmful pollutants. Boiling is the main water treatment system in Uganda with firewood and charcoal being the major energy sources. This has increased forest degradation and consequently contributed to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions. This project aims to assess the applicability of selected point of use water treatment systems in social culturally different contexts using rural households of the Rwenzori region, Uganda as a case study. We adopt a community engaged research (CER) approach that will foster knowledge co-creation and a stakeholder driven validation of the treatment technologies. Three treatment systems are distinguished: a ceramic filter, a biosand filter, and a gravity-driven membrane filter. These will be randomly distributed to selected households and followed up for a year to assess technical efficiency, affordability, gender sensitiveness, ease of use, and social acceptance. The project will contribute to new knowledge on the determinants of uptake of point of use water treatment systems and effects of increased access to safe water for consumption.