Introduction of the Siphon filter for households in Zambia

It is a project which aims to develop marketing and business models to introduce the Siphon filter (serving good quality householdwater) in Zambia. It is part of a larger project to introduce the filter in 4 African countries (Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Ethiopia). An important secondary aim of the pilot is selling the Siphon filter itself, providing people with household water of good quality (80% reduction in diarrhea, 40% improved nutrition for children under 5 years, lighting household task for women). The Huisman Foundation finances, together with Aqua4All, the pilot in Zambia. In Zambia 25.400 people will be provided with the Siphon filter on water use and quality.

What is a Siphon filter and which advantages does it offer?:

 

-Siphon Filter - robust, small, cheap (€ 7,-- to € 9,--)
-more efficient, longer life and higher yield than most other filters
-filter element must be replaced annually (€ 2,--). The life of the plastic parts is 5 years.
-The Siphon filter produces 50 to 80 L / day drinking water of good quality (eliminating turbidity, bacteria and viruses) for at least 7.000 liters (enough for a large family during one year).

 

 

 

Before the pilot will start in a country, it has first been tested intensively. Subsequently, the filter has been adjusted, based on experience of human use. In a one-year pilot, the marketing and business models are developed in each country. Ultimately, for each country  a new/renewed marketing and business model in that specific country will be applied in the years after. To open up the market and because of the social marketing aspect (in order to make a Siphon filter also accessible for the poorest) external funding will be required for the first five years, then no more.

The following outcomes are expected:

  • A functioning marketing and business model to introduce the Siphon filter in Zambia on a sustainable and commercially basis
  • 25.400 people will have household water of good quality at their disposal, by using the Siphon Filter.

 

The project fits well within the philosophy of the Huisman Foundation because the project combines and promotes both entrepreneurial / private sector as a better health / quality of life of local people (including the poorest) in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The contribution of the Huisman Foundation (€ 12.500,--) will be used to start the pilot project in Zambia. This contribution is doubled by Aqua4All.

The 'Siphon Filter in 4 countries' project was designed by Connect International, which also involved other partners such as the local NGO Dapp, Rural Energy Foundation and Waterbedrijf Groningen.