Sediment Your Water - Using Seeds
Optional: Download 'Sediment your water using Moringa seeds' poster to assist with the teaching.
Optional: Download 'Sediment your water using Moringa seeds' 'Educational Handout for the parents or guardian. |

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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.

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We can sediment our water using seeds. Different seeds are used in different countries and regions. Some seeds that can be used for sedimentation are: Fava Beans (Latin America), Moringa (Africa, Caribbean and parts of Asia) |
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

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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).

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Optional: Download 'Disinfect your water SODIS' poster to assist with the teaching.
Optional: Download 'Disinfect your water SODIS' Educational Handout for the parents or guardian. |
Disinfect Your Water - SODIS
Key Message: Solar disinfection (SODIS) is a good way to disinfect your water.
Possible Questions:
Have you ever seen or tried to use SODIS?
How do you think SODIS works? |

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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.

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Advantages:
Kills almost all microbes
Plastic bottles are widely available
Low-cost
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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?

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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?
Optional: Download 'Store Your Treated Water Safely' Poster to assist with the teaching.
Optional: Download 'Store Your Treated Water Safely' Educational Handout for the parents or guardian. |

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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
SOWING SEEDS OF SUCCESS - MORINGA CURRICULUM
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