Malawi Water Project: June 11 and 12

We have arrived in Mzuzu, Malawi!

Today, our first full day in Mzuzu, Derek and I jumped right in to our work with the Anglican Diocese of Northern Malawi (ADNM). The diocesan secretary, Bernard Mainga, has planned a wonderful schedule for us: one week here in Mzuzu surveying ADNM activities, then 6 weeks on Likoma Island in Lake Malawi working at a secondary school and a hospital, and our final week back in Mzuzu to finish up our time with ADNM.

Derek and I began our work here by serving ADNM’s partner, Malawi Water Project (MWP). MWP is a nongovernmental organization that works throughout Malawi to increase safe, clean water access among the local people and receives its funding from an organization in Canada. The Mzuzu MWP group works just outside of the city in Malawi’s beautiful northern mountainous jungle region. The primary method of doing this is by building and providing biosand water filters from local materials and installing them in people’s homes, usually to serve 5-20 family members. The typical, well-cared-for filter can last up to 16 years.

ADNM provides (pays for) a local project coordinator, Esau, to coordinate MWP’s work in Mzuzu and the surrounding area. Our driver Jonathan drove Esau, Derek, and me to the factory site where MWP builds biosand filters, about a 30 minute ride from the city. When we say factory, we use the term not to describe the type of building, but rather, the type of work done, construction of a product. The building is a small brick pavilion sharing the land of a demonstration garden also run by ADNM. While there, we met the garden’s proprietor who briefed us on the garden’s purpose. He said that the garden was constructed in 2002 in response to famine in Malawi to teach local farmers how to use maintain the land and improve productivity. But, since 2013, the garden has lacked funding and so has been all volunteer run, meaning the classes it previously hosted are no longer possible.

Before the work of the day began, Esau introduced us to the four main employees of MWP Mzuzu. All four people—two women and two men—are locals who live near the factory which adds to the project’s sustainability and reputation for using local knowledge to improve access to clean water. All MWP chapters work in a team model, and Mzuzu is no exception. Esau explained that the women work as Community Health Promoters, traveling to the nearby villages and teaching about health, hygiene, sanitation, and water. Key to success of the whole project, these two women work tirelessly to help community members understand why water filters are necessary for their families. Due to their work, the demand for biosand water filters is increasing exponentially and has exceeded supply.

The men employed by MWP are biosand water filter construction gurus. Each and every filter—all 216—that MWP Mzuzu has installed has been built and installed by the two men we had the privilege of meeting. Also, after installation, the men have a 90 day follow up program, visiting households several times during that period, to ensure the proper operation and use of the filters.

Our work with the Malawi Water Project consisted of building two bio-sand filters. For now, this is the maximum number that they can build per day, since they only have two molds. Another mold is currently on order from Zambia, which will allow for a weekly production of 15 filters, up from the current 10, which is the normal M-F production. First, the molds must be fastened together, using bolts, which are tightened using hand tools. No power tools here! A plastic is tube is run from the “spigot” portion of the machine down to the bottom of the filter, where the water fresh and clean after being filtered. The weight of the water above, combined with gravity, allows the water to flow from the bottom of the machine up to the spigot. Then butter is applied to allow the cement to easily slide out from the form when it is done. Butter is used as a lubricant since these will come into contact with drinking water. The making of the cement comes next.

The concrete mixture is mixed completely by hand using shovels. The local river sand is first sifted by hand to sift out any rocks, after which it is measured and placed onto the outdoor mixing slab. Then the cement itself is measured. This is followed by sifting of local rocks of ½ inch size, which are then placed in with the other ingredients. This is all stirred together in preparation for the addition of water. Water is supplied using a large cistern, which during the rainy season is filled with rainwater from the roof. Right now, however, is the dry season, so local villagers are employed to haul water the approximately 1km from a stream to fill the 2000 liter tank. Then the mixing begins, after which the concrete is poured into the forms, compacted, and allowed to sit overnight.

The following morning, we returned to continue our work. We began to undo the nuts and bolts holding the forms together, and lo and behold, our filters were still intact! After a bit of minor cosmetic work to fix a few small cracks, we allowed the forms to dry for about 30 minutes. At this point we filled them with water, which will remain there for several days. This is to ensure that the drying process wasn’t too rapid such that they would crack.

After our work at the factory was complete, we went to a nearby home to install a previously constructed filter. The filter is installed by putting larger stones at the bottom, followed by successively smaller stones, all the way up to sand that is almost like dust. This combination of materials allows the filters to catch most contaminants, including bacteria we are told. I can attest that I saw muddy water poured into the top and crystal clear water emerge from the spigot! On top of the filter sits a diffuser that the unfiltered water is poured into. This diffuser has tiny pin-holes which sprinkle the water into the filter machine so as to not rush in when being dumped, which would disturb the sand and stones. Once a certain level of water is reached in the filter machine, enough pressure will be generated that fresh, purified water will be forced through the tube and out the spigot and into a waiting pot or bucket below. This entire process is, of course, meant to mimic the filtering action of the earth when rain infiltrates the ground and percolates through.

We were told that the bio-sand filters can filter water for up to 15 years, depending on the amount of use they get. At that point, all that needs to be done to restore the filter to operation status is to remove the filter materials and either discard them and insert fresh materials or to wash the existing materials. The bio-sand filters are designed to provide enough drinking water for up to 20 people. Their flow rate is at least one liter per minute, which is not too bad considering what we are working with. The total construction cost of these filters is around 500 Malawian Kwacha, which is only a little over $1 USD. What a small price to pay for a device that can potentially save lives, and at the very least significantly improve the quality of life of its users for over 15 years undisturbed, with no electricity needed, only some sort of a water supply such as a well borehole, a river, or rainwater. Homeowners are not charged for these particular devices, since the Malawi Water Project is a non-profit organization. All supplies and labor costs are paid for by outside donations. Employees of Malawi Water Project told us that some for-profit companies in Malawi charge homeowners up to 10,000 Malawian Kwacha, or over $23 USD, a hefty sum for Malawians.

In the MWP training center

Sifting sand

Mixing the cement for the molds

Derek enjoying raw sugarcane! It really is quite good!!

Katherine trying to peel the sugarcane of its bark via the African way. We think this must strengthen the teeth and jaw!

Meeting James, the director of the demonstration garden

Using a device to remove the inner mold on day two of the project. This requires quite a bit of force to break the seal between the still wet cement and the metal. The man on the left is our driver, Jonathan, who takes us wherever we need to go.

Removing the outer molds

At the installation, washing the small stones in preparation for placing them inside the mold. The residents are watching intently as their new filter is prepared.

The village children were very excited to greet their visitors!

Finished filters at the factory waiting to be installed

Katherine hauling a mold

Filter sitting in its new home

Sprinkling the rocks into the filter 

The home where we installed the filter

Katherine helped install the filter by holding the baby...

Adding water to the newly installed filter

It works!

Measuring flow rate

Flushing out sediments before residents can consume the water

Community Health Promoter conducting an interview with the 18 year old resident and mother. The interview consisted of asking about previous water consumption habits, illnesses, knowledge of clean water importance, water-borne illness. As described in the above paragraphs, the CHP and installers will return to the home to conduct follow up interviews to ensure everything is going smoothly. Katherine and Derek will do this within the next few days.