{"id":696,"date":"2014-11-26T13:00:09","date_gmt":"2014-11-26T12:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/africa\/?p=696"},"modified":"2016-10-28T13:45:30","modified_gmt":"2016-10-28T12:45:30","slug":"water-purification-a-basic-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.iese.edu\/africa\/2014\/11\/26\/water-purification-a-basic-need\/","title":{"rendered":"Water purification: a basic need"},"content":{"rendered":"

During my stay in Kenya, I acquired a new habit, one which I have kept in my daily life: drinking hot, really hot, water \u2013 like from the kettle. That’s common there. I guess it has to do with the need to purify the water before drinking it. Though it’s a basic need, water purification can’t be taken for granted<\/strong> \u2013 not only in Kenya, but in many other countries in Africa and around the world. In fact, a taxi driver in Ghana was amazed when I told him that in my country we drink tap water.<\/p>\n

\"Water<\/a>
Water purification is not to be taken for granted<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Conventional water sanitation systems are expensive to build and to maintain.<\/strong> But there is some good news! Floating Macrophyte Filters”<\/a> (FMF) is a new affordable, sustainable water purification system.<\/strong> It’s an invention with the potential to change the lives of many Africans and others. As a matter of fact, its use in a 8,000-people town in Mali has reduced child\u00a0mortality by 75%<\/strong>, as cholera has been eradicated.<\/p>\n

FMF <\/a>was recognized in Kyoto 2003 as one of the best proposals for progress in the water sector.<\/strong> In a nutshell, FMF<\/a>\u00a0uses macrophytes to eliminate heavy metals, nitrates, phosphates and organic matter from waste water. These are the steps involved in the water purification process:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. waste water is collected in a pond;<\/li>\n
  2. the water is passed through the macrophytes;<\/li>\n
  3. within five days, the water is purified and meets the WHO standards for drinkable water.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    In contrast to conventional water purification systems, FMF<\/a> offers a number of advantages,<\/strong> including:<\/p>\n