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WEST AFRICAN TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION AND RECIPROCITY (WATER) FOR BENIN

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http://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_comments.cfm

Impact/Purpose:

Sub-Saharan Africa faces severe shortages of potable water currently and in the coming decades. The lack of access to potable water is exacerbated by extreme poverty. The United Nations Millennium Development Goals set forth realistic goals to improve access to water, sanitation and education and simultaneously reduce the number of people living below the poverty line. Appropriate technologies for water supply must synergistically address the three pillars of sustainable design: Solutions must be economical, environmentally benign and socially acceptable.

Description:

The Songhai Center has produced and tested over 300 fully functional point-of-use drinking water filters. The holistic approach of incorporated water treatment, waste reduction, economic development and promoted environmental and health awareness in the community.

The water filters were manufactured in Benin with local resources. Agricultural and industrial waste products such as sawdust, rice hulls, and waste motor oil were incorporated into the filter manufacturing process. The use of renewable energy sources such as biofuels has been investigated to decrease reliance upon non-renewable fossil fuels and decrease tree harvesting required for boiling water upon implementation in Benin.

Transfer of the technology will be most effective where there are existing facilities for manufacturing that already employ trained professionals. The technology can be easily adopted where there are community organizations such as community water boards or school boards. Clearly, the health and quality of life for millions of West Africans may be impacted at very low relative by this simple technology.

Integration of P3 concepts as an educational tool
“More than anything else, I’ve been shocked by how many people seem to brush off the issue of unhealthy water in developing countries. When they hear that we were there to work on a water filter project, they usually ask what I drank while I was there and if I got sick. Then at least half of the people I’ve talked to mention something about how I would get sick since I’m from the U.S. but that the people living in Benin don’t get sick because they’ve built up enough antibodies. They’re surprised every time when I explain that even though they do have some antibodies, they definitely get sick and children live with diarrhea daily. Where do so many Americans get this idea that people in other countries just adapt to living in less sanitary conditions?” (Maleena Scarsella, 2007 after returning from Benin)

The educational outcomes from the water treatment project included developing:

  • Increased cultural competence for working in developing countries
  • Increased understanding of bilingual education in West Africa
  • The ability to develop content-based curricula in science and health education
  • Appreciation for political and economic conditions of West Africa
  • The ability to apply basic epidemiological concepts to health initiative strategies
  • Experience in applying principles of sustainability to engineered systems
  • The ability to recognize challenges of engineering in developing countries

URLs/Downloads:

Final Progress Report

Record Details:

Record Type:PROJECT( ABSTRACT )
Start Date:08/31/2007
Completion Date:04/30/2008
Record ID: 186610