R.I.S.E China AssociationTsinghua UniversitySchool of EnvironmentRural International Student Exchange

IntroductionThursday, December 15 2011ByJason Lee, Alejandra Burchard

RISE CHINA:ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE Affiliated with Tsinghua University, School of

Environment Over 20 members

International and Chinese Student collaboration Majority of members are graduate students from

School of Environmental Engineering Goal : Apply our knowledge and skills for

sustainable development in rural areas Method of knowledge and technology transfer

(training)

FIRST PROJECT:WATER SAFETY IN RURAL CHINADid you know that in rural areas of China:

40% of potable water was stated to be unhealthy?

over 300 million rural Chinese residents still have no access to safe drinking water?

drinking water contaminated with levels of animal and human excreta can exceed maximum permissible levels by as much as 86%?

There are technologies available which are SIMPLE and AFFORDABLE!

BIOSAND FILTERS (BSF):THE ALTERNATIVE

Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technologies (CAWST) <www.cawst.org

Manz Water Info <www.manzwaterinfo.ca>

OUR APPROACH: TRAINING THE TRAINERS 1st Develop a comprehensive training

program for trainers BSF construction and maintenance Basic skills of how to manage an

enterprise/project 2nd Train students and NPOs (project

dissemination)

We do not just SUGGEST them a Solution, We COACH them how to make it!

This promotes self-sustainability!

OUR APPROACH:OPERATIONAL MODEL

RISE China Association清华协会

Entrepreneurs企业家

Local Authorities / Government

（本地政府）

Other Stakeholders / Partners

（其他利益相关者）

Rural Household农村家庭

Rural Household农村家庭 Rural Household

农村家庭

Rural Household农村家庭

Rural Household农村家庭

(Tsinghua) University Students（清华）大学生

Local NPOs （本地非营利组

织）

Knowledge Transfer

BIOSAND FILTERS (BSF): HOW IT WORKS

BIOSAND FILTER: REMOVAL EFFICIENCYCriteria Bio Sand Filter Clay Filter SODIS

Removal of Bacteria 95% 95% 99.99%

Removal of Viruses 80 - 95% Some 99.99%

Removal of Parasites 95% Some 99.99%

Removal of Inorganic Contaminants Some Some None

Aesthetic Improvement (colour, turbidity, smell, etc...) Yes Yes No

Typical Flowrate (L/hr) 10 - 30,000 1 2 (per 6 hours)

Ease of Construction Moderate Difficult Easy

Required Education Level of Users Moderate Low High

Suitability in Non-Tropic Regions Yes Yes No

Suitability in Freezing Temperature No Yes No

Sources: CAWST, www.cawst.orgManz Water Info, www.manzwaterinfo.ca

CASE STUDY (LAOS):LOCAL COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP

CASE STUDY (LAOS):MAKING A DIFFERENCE

PILOT PROJECT:DEVELOPING A TRAINING PROGRAM Acquire the experience necessary to develop

a comprehensive training program

Phase I: Testing the BSF technology at the Tsinghua University campus Determine the best way to construct /

troubleshoot

Phase II: Full-scale development in several target villages with different characteristics Developing a list of criteria to test social and

technological suitability Developing relations with target villages

CONTACTS Contact info:

Alejandra Burchard (B.Eng McGill U.): alejandra.burchard@gmail.com

Jason Lee (B.Eng U. of Waterloo): jasoncklee@gmail.com