UZ-1 Household Water Filter

Target Countries

Honduras, Kenya

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$250.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Uzima Clean Water Mission is an organization that coordinates the purchase of products for communities by NGOs. In Kenya, this product has been implemented by NGOs such as e3kids, Just One Africa, and Pregis. The product has also been implemented by HOI in Honduras.

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include Agualogic water filter, ACI Household Filter, and Tulip Table Top Filter.

Manufacturing/Building Method

The UZ-1 is mass-manufactured in the USA by Uzima.

Intellectural Property Type

Trademarked

User Provision Model

The product is largely marketed for purchase and distribution by humanitarian organizations. Alternatively, users can obtain the product directly from Uzima.

Distributions to Date Status

As of 2019, approximately 4,000 units have been distributed.

Design Specifications

The gravity-fed membrane micro-filtration product is assembled by the purchaser. The filter consists of hollow fiber membrane technology, with a pore size of 0.1 microns. Standard installation requires acquiring two 20 L buckets, one of which must have a lid (upper bucket). Holes must be drilled in the buckets in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer. The final product consists of two 20 L buckets stacked on top of each other. The top bucket is filled with raw water. This bucket has the filter cartridge screwed into the bottom of it. Water flows from the top bucket, through the filter cartridge by gravity into the bottom bucket. Water enters the filter surrounding the membrane, clean water molecules are able to pass through pores to the bottom bucket, whilst biological contaminants are unable to pass.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

The manufacturer provides support on the assembly of the filtration system. The UZ-1 requires regular cleaning to ensure working capacity.

Replacement Components

Unknown

Lifecycle

Expected lifespan of 10 years

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

The filter is designed to have an effective reduction of bacteria by 6 log (coliforms).

Vetted Performance Status

Field studies of independent academic research have found that the UZ-1 filter achieved 93.8% of effective bacterial filtration.

Safety

Incorrect maintenance of the system could result in the ingestion of contaminated water causing illness.

Complementary Technical Systems

Safe water storage containers

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) goals for microbiological reduction were used to assess the UZ-1 filter, by BCA Laboratories. The study found that the filters were able to reduce bacteria levels by 6 log (coliform). Compliance with WHO performance metrics for the reduction of bacteria and protozoa.

Evaluation methods

Effective removal of coliforms, in compliance with WHO safe water drinking guidelines, is cited as an evaluation criterion by the manufacturers.

Other Information

Uzima is partnered with the Center for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST). The product is featured on the CAWST site in Products & Technologies. The product is purchased as a set of 10. Each set contains 10 UZ-1 filters, 10 bucket connectors, 11 water taps, 11 filter cleaners, and 11 educational brochures. Buckets are sold separately.