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I know that the world is not always the wonderful place it is for me. But with CAWST’s hard work, I’m sure it can be the wonderful place it was meant to be.- Student, Hillhurst Elementary School, Calgary
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CAWST - Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology
Providing technical training, consulting and acting as a centre of expertise in water and sanitation for the poor in developing countries.
Our hearts are with Haiti
January 15, 2010
CAWST would like to thank, its volunteers, members, donors, and friends for their concern regarding the earthquake in Haiti. [ continue reading ]
Improved Biosand Filter Design
In 2009, CAWST set out to field test Version 10 of the biosand filter during the six months of the year. The results are in and CAWST is now pleased to share the improved biosand filter design.
CAWST believes that Version 10 is a significant improvement over Version 9 that will better protect the health of the people drinking the filtered water. For this reason, CAWST recommends that implementers change to Version 10. CAWST recognizes that the cost of fabricating new molds is a significant investment for an organization.
Biosand filter Version 9 remains an effective filter, and CAWST will continue to support implementers regardless of the version used. Implementers can choose to change to Version 10 immediately, or consider a phased approach to reduce the cost of fabricating new molds.
Information on the rationale behind the design change, what has changed with Version 10, and how to make the change can be found in our Technical Bulletin.
A new biosand filter manual has been developed for Version 10 as well as frequently asked questions.
If you have any problems or questions, please contact us.
Low Cost Sanitation
The Low Cost Sanitation workshop focuses on safe excreta disposal, domestic wastewater and solid waste management and disposal. Participants will learn about the socio-cultural issues of designing sanitation programs, and the technical aspects and designs of the different sanitation options. In addition, learn how to determine the best range of sanitation options for a particular situation, and how to design a sanitation improvement program. Practical components include the construction of concrete latrine slabs.
The next Low Cost Sanitation workshop will be held in Calgary (Alberta, Canada) from February 1-4, 2010. Click here for details.
See more CAWST training programs.
Did You Know?
- 2.2 million people in developing countries die every year from diseases associated with lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.
- Improvements in drinking-water quality through household water treatment (HWT) can lead to a reduction of diarrhoeal episodes by between 35% and 39%.
- The average person in the developing world uses 10 litres of water per day, the average North American uses more than 300 litres per day.