NEGOTIATIONS
FOCUS
PROCESS
KEY STEPS
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Solar powered water purification system
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Focus area: Mitigation
Website
Location: Ban Phonemuang, Ban Phonelek, Ban Mane,
Ban Phonedeng, Ban Thongkwuang in Khammouane Province , Lao PDR
Established: May 2009
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About one third of all people living in the Lao PDR do not have proper access to clean drinking
water. Access to improved sources of water is slightly better in cities (77%) but this number
hasn’t significantly risen in the past 15 years, according to the World Health Organization.
With flooding and higher temperatures, the frequency of water-borne diseases such as cholera and
dengue can increase. People without proper access use water from rivers and streams, and usually boil
it before drinking, which requires burning fuel, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
The water is purified in four steps:
1. Pumping;
2. Preliminary filtration;
3. Filtration;
4. Bottle cleaning.
Installation of the system takes from 3-10 days, depending on the location, the size of the system
and local conditions. Another 1-2 days are needed for training on the use of the water pump and the
filtration module. The system needs a minimum amount of sun to operate properly, but can continue to
operate on a battery for a few cloudy days when necessary.
The activity is based on a Private Public partnership scheme, a donor provides funds to purchase the
system. Donors include development aid agencies.
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Mitigation / Adaptation
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Social and environmental benefits
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Potential for scaling-up and replication
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One unit can treat up to 5000 liters a day, which is usually
enough to cater for the needs of a community of about 1250 people or 250 households. The
filtration component can be powered through the regular grid or via a solar panel. The UV
bulb has a lifetime of 8000 hours of operation, after which certain parts have to be
replaced. Fine and activated carbon filters should be changed regularly (once every 3-6
months) A local technician can carry out operation and minor maintenance activities, but
major maintenance has to be looked after by a qualified technician.
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The community is fully involved in the activity, a Water
Committee is created which selects a representative in each village with the agreement of
village Committee and villagers. A day of training is conducted with the new Committee to
explain the management and monitoring of the small enterprise.
Hygiene training was held in five villages. The training was
conducted by the Lao Red Cross team. The purpose of the training was to improve hygiene
awareness focusing on drinking water, cooking and the use of bottled water.
The training took a day per village involving preferentially
women and children.
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In the past eight years, the system has been installed in over
30 sites in Laos.
When replicating, some basic conditions should be in
place:
1. An organized community to oversee the management of the activity;
2. Funding; costs can be broght down by community members contributing with
labour;
3. Technical requirements for the installation of the system;
4. Raw water could be found with specific pollution and in that case a specific study
and water analysis should be performed. It will require accordingly additional purification
equipment, designed according to the
case.
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Organization
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Sunlabob Renewable Energy Ltd
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