Purifaaya

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$25.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Purifaaya has distributors all over Uganda. SPOUTS partners and supporters include SIMBA telecom, Tuskys Supermarket, Uganda Ministry of Water and Environment and others (page 8).

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include DHAN Biosand Filters, CeraMaji, BushProof Biosand Filter, Ideas at Work Biosand Filter, and Hydraid® BioSand Filter.

Manufacturing/Building Method

Purifaaya is mass produced at the SPOUTS factory in Uganda. The raw materials (black clay, yellow clay, sawdust, and grog) are grinded and mixed together. The mixture is pressed into the filter form and touched up. Filters are fired in a wood-burning kiln at 900 °C. The sawdust is combusted leaving micropores, the main form of physical filtration. Filters are painted with silver nitrate for chemical disinfection. They are then packaged and distributed to various partners.

Intellectural Property Type

Open-source

User Provision Model

User can purchase the product from local partners and distributors.

Distributions to Date Status

According to the 2016 Annual Report, roughly 10,000 units have been distributed from 2015 to 2016.

Design Specifications

Water is filtered through small silver-impregnated pours in the ceramic filter where bacteria is too large to fit through.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

Available from manufacturer. ^{Interview with representative}

Replacement Components

Manufacturer recommends replacing the filter every 2-3 years to keep filtering process from slowing down. The filter will always remain effective separating out impurities. Additional replacements available from manufacture. ^{Interview with representative}

Lifecycle

2 years

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

2 L of water is filtered per hour and each filter has a life span of 2 years, or 17,520 hours. 99.9% of bacteria is eliminated.

Vetted Performance Status

Water collected through filter tap was tested for bacteriological, physical and chemical constituents to ensure the safety of the water and compared to the water before it went through the filter. The percentage removal rate was calculated and it’s sustainability. Purifaaya has also successfully performed in disaster relief situations like Tsunami in Sri Lanka and Flooding in Dominician Republic. More info here.

Safety

Regular cleaning and maintenance of ceramic water filter required in every 14 days.

Complementary Technical Systems

None

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

Meets standard of safe drinking water by the Uganda Ministry of Water and Environment.

Evaluation methods

Laboratory testing of water cleaned by Purifaaya include parameters like conductivity, pH and turbidity measurements and testing total Coliforms and E. coli by decomposing organic matter.

Other Information

Awards

Annual Reports: 2015, 2016

Donations are also accepted by SPOUTS

Impact of Purifaaya

Spouts also offer Purifaaya XL model for schools and refugee camps