Ecofiltros for Safe Passage families

Reduced spending,improved health, increased awareness

What are Ecofiltros?

Developed in the ‘80s by a Guatemalan scientist

Ecofiltro provides an affordable means of filtering water, other than chlorinating or boiling water

Found to reduce instances of diarrhea by 50%

Awarded the World Bank’s Marketplace Award for sustainability in 2003, 2004

In the last 3 years, 60 000 filters have been distributed, serving 500 000 Guatemalans

Ecofiltros are now available in 14 countries around the worldAccessed at http://ecofiltro.org/index.php?showPage=86&cache=1

How does Ecofiltro work?

Made out of local clay and sawdust, bathed in colloidal silver, a naturally anti-bacterial substance

Micropores in clay basin filter out impurities, such as cysts, fecal residue, etc. Also eliminates smell and color from contaminated water

Colloidal silver coating purifies water from bacteria that cause diarrhea, cholera, and other diseases of the digestive tract

Clay basin placed inside a bucket with a tap and cleaning instructions on the back

Clay basin must be cleaned regularly and replaced once a yearAccessed at http://ecofiltro.org/index.php?showPage=104&cache=1

Ecofiltro and Safe Passage

Through the Adult Literacy program, Safe Passage has provided donated and discounted Ecofiltros to local families in 2009 and 2010

Safe Passage organizes a water filtering training session for families receiving Ecofiltros every year

In May 2009, 42 filters were donated by Water Charity and given out to women who attended Adult Literacy classes as well as 4 given to Safe Passage

In June 2010, 32 of these women requested and bought a clay basin replacement with a 50% discount of Q100.00 provided by the company Ecofiltro

In addition, Water Charity donated new filters to an additional 35 women and men in 2010

77 Safe Passage families now have an Ecofiltro water filter in their homes

Ecofiltro and Safe Passage

How Safe Passage women get their water

The facts about running water

*How receptive are Safe Passage women to

Ecofiltros?

Filtration techniques of Safe Passage families

Ecofiltro training on filtration and hygiene

Effectiveness of Safe Passage water and sanitation trainings

*Effectiveness of Safe Passage water and sanitation trainings

Effectiveness of Safe Passage water and sanitation trainings

Water filtering training 2010

Health behaviors, other than water filtration

Hand washing behavior

Hand washing behavior

Hand washing behavior

Diarrheal disease with and without Ecofiltro

Diarrheal disease with and without Ecofiltro

Previous scientific studies

Social Studies. No. 53 Magazine.  IV Season.  The Fight Against Child Morbidity: “Artisan Filters and Education.  AfA Guatemala, ICAITI, IDIES”Rafael Landivar University, Guatemala. 1993-1994. Accessed at http://ecofiltro.org/index.php?showPage=10&cache=1.

Diarrheal disease with and without Ecofiltro

Effectiveness of filtering water with Ecofiltro compared to

other methods

Healthy families are happy families