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SPOUTS of Water

Vital Stats

Seul K

Cambridge, MA

people helped10000000
People Doing It 10

The Problem

According to UNICEF, more than 30% of the Ugandan population lacked access to “improved” drinking water sources in 2008, leaving more than 10 million Ugandans without this basic necessity. In addition, WHO statistics show that water-born diseases are the number one leading cause of death for children under the age of 5 in Uganda.

Plan of Action

By creating a local ceramic water filter factory in Uganda, SPOUTS (Sustainable Point-of-Use Treatment and Storage) of Water can increase clean water access in Uganda, and in the long-run, lower the critically high mortality rates due to water-borne diseases. At the factory, we can also train and employ local populations to manufacture these filters. This strategy circumvents the common criticism of international aid projects that the lack of local cooperation inevitably leads to dependence and lack of sustainability. Designed with the help of volunteer engineers, the ceramic filters are also cost-effective, low-maintenance, and designed with a focus on the device’s cultural acceptance by the people of Uganda.