Agriculture
December 29, 2023
LifeWell Water Filter
Read SolutionImplemented by
RealRelief
Updated on January 2, 2024
·Created on August 30, 2020
The UZ-XL Large Capacity Filter is a hollow fiber membrane filtration unit manufactured in the USA, designed to service schools, clinics, and orphanages.
The UZ-XL Large Capacity Water Filter is designed and manufactured by Uzima to meet larger water demands like that of clinics, schools, and orphanages. The product uses hollow fiber membrane technology, with the backflushing process occurring in-line. The filter contains bundles of hollow fibers designed to allow only water molecules to pass through the filter, filtering out anything larger than 0.1 microns (bacteria, cysts, protozoa).
The product has been implemented in Kenya, Nigeria, and Honduras. Retail purchase is 450 USD, Non-profit purchase is 350 USD
Target SDGs
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being
Market Suggested Retail Price
$450.00
Target Users (Target Impact Group)
Community, Public Sector Agencies, NGOs
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. In Nigeria, IPG is a key distributor of the product. The product has also been implemented by HOI in Honduras. The product can be purchased through the Uzima website, the company offers different pricing for retail and non-profit purchase by humanitarian organization partners.
Competitive Landscape
Direct competitors include Sawyer Point ZeroTwo Water Purifier and Grifaid Community Filter.
Manufacturing/Building Method
The product is designed and manufactured in the USA by Uzima. The product includes 5 main parts: water input assembly, primary filter, secondary filter, rubber tubing, and water output assembly. The assembly of the product is detailed by the manufacturer.
Intellectural Property Type
Trademark
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
The exact number is unknown. However, it is estimated that over 6,000 products have been implemented as of 2017 through distributor Just One Africa.
Target use case
Community use
Manufacturer-specified flow rate (L/hr)
Not specified
Bacteria reduction
4 log (E. coli, Salmonella typhi (Typhoid), Vibrio cholerae (Cholera))
Type of membrane filtration
Hollow Fiber Membrane
Virus reduction
None
Protozoa reduction
6 log (Cryptosporidium & Giardia)
Heavy metals and/or arsenic reduction
No
Maximum recommended influent turbidity level (NTU)
Unknown
Effluent turbidity levels (NTU)
Unknown
Material of construction
Unknown
Safe water storage capacity (L)
Not specified
Manufacturer-specified lifetime volume (L)
Not specified
Design Specifications
The filtration system consists of a primary and secondary filter, with the backflushing process occurring in-line. Each filter contains bundles of hollow fibers designed to allow only water molecules to pass through the filter, filtering out anything larger than 0.1 microns (bacteria, cysts, protozoa). Valves located on the water input and water output assembly parts allow for control of water flow and operating mode. In standard operating mode, all valves are orientated horizontally. Water flows from the water input tubing, through the primary filter, and exits the system purified by the water output tubing.
Technical Support
The product requires regular cleaning to ensure proper operation. The manufacturer provides detailed documentation for product operating modes: standard, backflush, and cleaning configurations.
Replacement Components
Rubber tubing is listed as a replacement component.
Lifecycle
The filter has an expected lifespan of 10 years.
Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters
The product is designed to treat water to the safety standards of WHO.
Vetted Performance Status
Performance in the field by independent research has found 6 log (coliform) reduction through the use of the UZ-XL filter.
Safety
Regular cleaning of the system is required to ensure that water is safe to consume.
Complementary Technical Systems
Safe water storage systems.
Academic Research and References
Fagerli, G., et al., 2018, Evaluation of use, acceptability, and effectiveness of household water filter systems in Honduras, 2016–2017. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 35, pp. 20-44
World Health Organisation, 2019, Results of Round II of the WHO International Scheme to Evaluate Household Water Treatment Technologies. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
J. Wright, S. Gundry, and R. Conroy, “Household drinking water in developing countries: a systematic review of microbiological contamination between source and point?of?use,” Trop. Med. Int. Health, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 106–117, 2004.
“UZ-XL ~ Large Capacity Water Filter ~ Uzima Water Filters Water Filters,” Uzima Water Filters, 03-May-2018. Available: https://uzimafilters.org/our-products/uz-xl/
“E3 Kids International?::: Equipping, Empowering & Educating Youth,” e3kids international. Available: https://e3kids.com
“Sustainable Clean Water Solutions for Kenya – Just One Africa,” Just One Africa – Creating sustainable solutions for vulnerable children and the clean water crisis., 12-Feb-2015. Available: https://www.justoneafrica.org/clean-water/
“Giving Back,” Pregis.com. Available: https://www.pregis.com/sustainable-packaging/giving-back/
“Uzima Water Filters Online Store,” Uzima Water Filters. Available: https://shop.uzimafilters.org/
“Uzima Retail Store,” Uzima Water Filters. Available: https://shop.uzimafilters.org/collections/retail
“Uzima Non-Profit Store,” Uzima Water Filters. Available: https://shop.uzimafilters.org/collections/non-profit
“UZ-XL Large Capacity Filter,” Uzima Water Filters. Available: https://shop.uzimafilters.org/products/uz-xl-large-capacity-filter
“UZ-XL Large Capacity Filter,” Uzima Water Filters. Available: https://shop.uzimafilters.org/products/uz-xl
“Goal 6,” Sdgs.un.org. Available: https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal6
“About Us,” Uzima Water Filters, 25-Apr-2018. Available: https://uzimafilters.org/about-us/
“Assembly instructions,” Uzimafilters.org. Available: https://uzimafilters.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/UZ-XL-Assembly-Instructions.compressed.pdf
“UZIMA Trademark of Uzima Filters, Inc. – Registration Number 4985163 – Serial Number 86676877,” Justia.com. Available: http://trademarks.justia.com/866/76/uzima-86676877.html
“Distributions to date,” Creating sustainable solutions for vulnerable children and the clean water crisis., 12-Feb-2015. Available: https://www.justoneafrica.org/clean-water-impact/
“UZ-XL,” Uzimafilters.org. Available: https://uzimafilters.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/UZ-XL-Operating-Modes_fa.pdf
Uzimafilters.org, 2015. Available: https://uzimafilters.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/BCN-Microbiological-Results-UZima-FIlter-091815.pdf
“Our Products ~ Uzima Water Filters Water Filters,” Uzima Water Filters, 01-May-2018. Available: https://uzimafilters.org/our-products/
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 log 6 (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 has a number of products for personal and household use, available via their website.
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