On the the 22nd of August 2011 the first containerised QuaWater Village Solution was installed at the village of Edakeni in KwaZuluNatal, South Africa. Together with the AquaDoc UV unit at the local school, this provides the village residents and the students with safe and healthy drinking water.
The remote village of Edakeni is situated on the banks of the Tugela River. Because the river water is very unsafe and contaminated, the village had mainly relied on water brought in by tank trucks. However, there are only limited, narrow and dangerous roads in the area, and access to the village is regularly cut off by heavy rains. In order to provide an additional source of water to their students the school had installed two large tanks to collect rainwater from the roofs. This water, however, also was often unsafe to drink, causing diarrhoea.
In cooperation with the local community based organisation, Sensokuhle, outside funders have provided the residents with a QuaWater Village Solution water treatment system, and an AquaDoc UV School system for the students. This gives the people permanent and safe drinking water, the basis for good health.
The Village Solution is a compact, robust all-in-one treatment system for purifying the raw river water. It was transported to the site pre-assembled in a shipping container. This meant that the installation was completed in just two days! A concrete foundation had been prepared on site, and security fencing was constructed once the Village Solution container had been put in place. After the system had been thoroughly tested local water managers were trained for operation and maintenance of the system. The Village Solution has been handed over to the local population, who continue to operate it and contribute to the running costs.
At the Edakeni Primary School the AquaDoc UV was installed to purify and disinfect the collected rainwater to make it safe for drinking. QuaWater installed a feeder tank on the outside wall of the school, with a pumping system connected to the large rainwater collection tanks already in place. The AquaDoc UV pre-filter and ultraviolet disinfection system are mounted on the other side of the wall, inside one of the admin rooms. There, everyday teachers fill up 25 litre jerrycans with purified water for each classroom. The pump and AquaDoc UV system are powered by a solar panel, which was earlier installed inside the school compound to, mainly to provide light for evening classes.
The AquaDoc UV and Village Solution at Edakeni have now been providing safe drinking water to the village and students for almost 6 months. The water has been tested at both sites and proven to be of excellent quality, contributing to the health of the people. There are many more schools and villages in this area in need of permanent, sustainable solution for safe drinking water.
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The Village Solution container rolling through the hills of KwaZuluNatal
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Water tank being installed on the Village Solution container
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Tested and approved!
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