Tusafishe have developed eco-friendly filters which turn dirty lake water into drinking water, ensuring that people in Uganda have access to clean drinking water.

The low-cost, sand filtration system reduce reliance on the conventional high-carbon method of boiling water for drinking purposes, while eliminating water borne diseases.

Biological filters are built using locally available materials, and are easy to maintain making them cheap and affordable for Ugandan population.

Using the same principle as natural springs in the ground, Tusafishe’s water filtration system is simply a bucket filled with nothing but freshly ground granite. It filters particles, bacteria, even chemicals out of the water and makes it safe to drink.

One small bucket filters up to 40 litres per day, enough for an average household. A large bucket has a capacity of 200 litres per day. And the more the filter is used, the more the material compacts – the water will get even cleaner over time. The Tusafishe granite just needs to be washed and dried every few months and the bucket can be refilled right away.

According to a study by the World Health Organisation, “slow sand filtration, under suitable circumstances, may be not only the cheapest and simplest but also the most efficient method of water treatment”.

The Kampala-based Tusafishe also provides training to women in communities to be able to install and maintain water filters, providing them with an additional income stream.

Rosa Medea is Life & Soul Magazine’s Chief. She writes about lifestyle including sustainable and green living.