Contact Us

Drop of Hope - Multi-Barrier Approach

Embedded Microsoft Office presentation, powered by Office.

The Multi-Barrier Approach to Safe Drinking Water:

The best way to reduce the risk of drinking unsafe water is to use the multi-barrier approach.

1•  Protect your source water - Keep it clean. Keep human and animal waste out. Do not let any other water mix with the water- keep surface flow, runoff and wastewater out.

Protect Your Treated Water

Key Message: Using a safe storage container and cleaning it regularly will protect your treated water.

Possible Questions:

•  What kind of storage container do you use for drinking water?

•  How often do you clean the storage container?

•  How do you clean the storage container?

Content:

Cleaning your storage container will keep your treated water safe to drink. The tap may become dirty with use. The inside of the storage container should be cleaned:

•  When the container looks dirty

•  When you do maintenance

•  At least once a month

To clean your storage container:

•  Wash your hands before cleaning the container

•  Scrub the inside of the container with soap and treated water

•  Empty the soapy water through the tap

•  Rinse the container with a little treated water

•  Add chlorine to water in the storage container - let it sit for 30 minutes - if chlorine is not available, let the container air dry

•  Empty the remaining water through the tap

•  Clean the tap with a clean cloth and chlorine solution (such as bleach)

The storage container is clean and safe to use.

When removing water from the storage container, always pour the water from the container to a cup or glass. Teach children to pour out the water when they need to drink. Do not dip cups or dippers into the storage container. This will contaminate your drinking water and storage container.

If the storage container is too big to pour and does not have a tap:

•  Use a dedicated dipper with a long handle

•  Clean the dipper everyday with soap and water

Check for Understanding:

•  How often should you clean the storage container?

•  How should you clean the storage container?

•  Why do you need to clean your storage container?

•  How should you remove water from the storage container?

•  How can the storage container become recontaminated?

Information sourced from CAWST.org

2. Sediment your water - Let the dirt and large particles in the water fall to the bottom. You can either leave it to settle on its own or use alum, moringa seeds or prickly pear cactus to help the dirt settle.

Sediment Your Water - Using Seeds

Key Message: Different seeds can be used to help remove sediment from your water.

Possible Questions:

•  Have you ever used seeds to sediment your water?

•  If yes, how do you usually use seeds?

Content:

The first step in treating your water is to perform sedimentation. When our water is dirty we need to sediment it. Microbes like to stick to sediment, so by removing the sediment we are removing microbes.

There are different ways people use seeds to sediment their water. Explain how to use the seeds available in your area.

One way is to do the following steps:

•  Let the seeds dry out in the sun

•  Grind up some seeds

•  Add a handful of ground seeds to a bucket of dirty water

•  Stir the water with a spoon or stick for a few minutes

•  Let it settle for a couple of hours

•  Pour the clear water into a clean storage container

The seeds will be left at the bottom of the bucket. They should be thrown out with the rest of the household garbage.

By using sedimentation, we are helping to get better water. We still need to filter and disinfect our water after using seeds.

Check for Understanding:

•  Why would you want to use seeds?

•  How would you use seeds to sediment your water?

•  Is the water safe to drink after sedimentation?

Information sourced from CAWST.org

3. Filter your water - Filter out the rest of the dirt and larger pathogens that make you sick. You can use a filter like a BioSand Filter.

4. Disinfect your water - After removing the dirt and large particles, disinfecting the water will get rid of any of the pathogens that are left - even the very small ones that were too small to be filtered out of the water. You can use chlorine, boiling, or solar disinfection (SODIS).

Disinfect Your Water - SODIS

Key Message: Solar disinfection (SODIS) is a good way to disinfect your water.

Content:

SODIS stands for solar disinfection. During SODIS, the rays from the sun kill microbes in the water making it safe to drink. Your source water needs to be clear to use SODIS. If the source water is dirty, use sedimentation and filtration methods before using SODIS.

To perform SODIS, use plastic bottles that are clear . The bottles cannot be coloured, dirty, or tinted because the sun's rays will not pass through the bottle. The bottles should hold 1-2 liters of water.

To perform SODIS:

•  Clean a plastic bottle with soap and water before using it

•  Fill the bottle full of water, leaving no air bubbles

•  Close the lid tightly

•  Place the bottles in direct sunlight, on a corrugated iron sheet or put them on the roof

•  On a sunny day, expose the bottles from morning to night or for at least 6 hours

•  On a cloudy day, expose the bottles from morning to night for 2 days

•  On a rainy day, SODIS does not work - use another disinfection method

•  Remove the bottles from the sunlight

The water in the plastic bottles may be warm or hot. You may want to wait until the water cools down before drinking it. The water in the plastic bottles is safe to drink.

Disadvantages:

•  Water will be warm after disinfection

•  Only effective for small quantities of water

•  Process takes at least one day

Check for Understanding:

•  What does SODIS stand for?

•  How does SODIS work?

•  What are some of the good things about SODIS?

•  How would you use SODIS?

•  What if your source water is dirty? What would you do?

•  If it's a sunny day, how long should you expose the bottles?

•  If it's a cloudy day, how long should you expose the bottles?

•  If it's a rainy day, what would you do?

Information sourced from CAWST.org

Disinfect Your Water - Chlorine/Bleach

Key Message: Using chlorine is a good way to disinfect your water.

Possible Questions:

•  Have you ever used chlorine to disinfect your water?

•  How do you think chlorine works?

Optional: Download 'Disinfect your water Chlorine/Bleach' Poster to assist with the teaching. Optional: Download 'Disinfect your water Chlorine/Bleach' Educational Handout for the parents or guardian.

Chlorine kills microbes in the water, making it safe to drink. Your source water needs to be clear to use chlorine. If the source water is dirty, use sedimentation and filtration methods before using chlorine.

Different types of chlorine are used in different countries and regions. Each type of chlorine has specific directions for using it properly. You will need to read the label and follow the directions on the package. Explain how to use the chlorine available in your area.

In general, we add some chlorine to the water and allow the water to sit for 30 minutes. Waiting 30 minutes gives the chlorine time to kill the microbes.

Chlorine can be dangerous to people, especially children. Store chlorine in a cool, dark place. Do not use a different bottle to store chlorine. Do not leave a bottle of chlorine within the reach of children.

Advantages:

•  Kills almost all microbes

•  Available in most places

•  Low-cost

•  Chlorine in water will help prevent recontamination during storage

Disadvantages:

•  On-going cost of buying chlorine

•  May need to filter and sediment source water before using chlorine

•  Need to wait 30 minutes for good quality drinking water

•  Can take time to get used to taste

•  May not be available

Check for Understanding:

•  How does chlorine work?

•  Explain how to use the chlorine that's available in your community.

Information sourced from CAWST.org

5. Store your water safely - Keep your treated water in a container that will keep it from getting dirty again.

Key Message: Treated water should be stored properly to keep it safe.

Possible Questions:

•  How can water be stored?

•  What type of storage container do you use for drinking water?

•  What are the good features of the water containers shown?

•  What are the bad features of the water containers shown?

Treated water needs to be protected from recontamination with a good storage container.

A separate drinking water container should only be used to store treated water. Use a different container for dirty water and use it only for untreated source water.

A good storage container has the following features:

•  Strong and tightly fitting lid or cover

•  Tap or narrow opening

•  Stable base

•  Durable

•  Comfortable handle

•  Allows air to enter as water is poured

•  Should not be translucent

These features of a good storage container will prevent recontamination.

A clear storage container, placed in the sun, may become dirty very quickly. Place the storage container in a shady place within the home. It should be stored off the ground in a clean place.

Sometimes it is difficult to find or buy a good storage container. The most important things are to make sure that it is covered and only used for treated water .

Check for Understanding:

•  What is a good water storage container? Why?

•  Where can you get a good water storage container?

•  Why should we keep our hand and fingers out of the storage container?

•  Why does a good storage container have a lid?

Information sourced from CAWST.org

View on YouTube CAWST Video #4 'How to use water from a BSF'

GROW AND GO CURRICULUM

ENGLISH

SWAHILI

CHICHEWA

NUER

FRENCH/LINGALA

PORTUGUESE

FRENCH/HAITIAN

SUPER FRUIT CURRICULUM

NEW LIFE CURRICULUM