A basic problem common throughout most of Sub-Saharan Africa is the lack of adequate sanitation facilities. The hard facts are that water in lakes, rivers, wells, and even boreholes is contaminated with viruses, bacteria, and parasites, primarily affecting children under 5 years. Polluted water sources are the most common cause of death in this population. The unique technology used removes all infectious causes of diarrhoea, resulting in demonstrable improvement in survival and enhancement of health in general.
Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, is a waterborne parasitic disease that disproportionately affects rural communities, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. It is transmitted through contact with freshwater contaminated by parasites released by infected snails, often in rivers, ponds, and lakes used for drinking, bathing, and fishing. Children, particularly girls, are vulnerable due to frequently having the responsibility of fetching water for the family. The NUF500 device eliminates the need to wade into the contaminated water source to “fetch” the daily water supply for the family. In collaboration with the Water Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ghana, we are currently conducting research on the impact of our intervention on schistosomiasis in Ghana.
Easy Water for Everyone plays a critical role in breaking the cycle of ALL waterborne disease transmission, by providing access to pure water and reducing dependency on unsafe sources. As part of the broader effort to meet SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), EWfE’s work exemplifies how practical innovation can drive real public health outcomes.
When a community gets access to clean, pure water, it can change just about everything.
Access to pure water means education, income, health, and well-being. We are proud to share that our projects have led to immediate positive impacts — learn more about how our system is supporting healthy villages.
In rural communities lacking sanitation, fecal contamination of water may result in severe illnesses, particularly in children under the age of 5 and recently weaned infants.
This lack of sustainability of water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions has devastating consequences for individuals, economies, and the environment and poses a major obstacle to universal access to services.
Easy Water for Everyone’s NUF500 filtration system uses gravity-driven filtration technology to effectively remove pathogens, viruses, bacteria, and parasites from contaminated water without the need for electricity or chemicals.
The NUF500 has been scientifically tested and field-proven to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standards. Its ability to remove bacteria, viruses and pathogens exceeds international guidelines for microbiological water purification.
Communities stop drinking from contaminated rivers and lakes.
Cases of waterborne diseases like diarrhea, cholera, and schistosomiasis are significantly reduced.
Vulnerable groups like children, pregnant women, and the elderly are protected.
While electricity can simplify water purification, many rural communities without access to power still rely on untreated surface water from lakes, rivers, and contaminated wells. Easy Water for Everyone provides an innovative solution that enables these communities to access a consistent supply of safe water for drinking, handwashing, bathing, cooking, and more.
Contaminated water flows from the polytank placed approximately 10 -12 feet above the device, where the 8 repurposed hemodialyzer filters are placed, providing pure water free of all pathogens on demand from the spigot. This entire system is called the Gravity Water System (GWS). Periodic backwash is needed to “unclog” the filters. The frequency depends on the amount of sediment present in the source water. The average seems to be three times per day for 10 – 15 minutes.