Bio-sand filters bring safe water to Capaculan

Plan's water and sanitation projects are helping to prevent sickness and save children's lives

20 March 2008: For the first time ever, children in Capaculan village in Masbate, the Philippines are celebrating World Water Day on 22 March with clean, safe water thanks to bio-sand filters introduced by Plan.

During the rainy season, the well which provided water to sixth grade student Camille Valencia and her family was often muddy and murky.

She would have to spend time boiling and cooling it before drinking, making her late for school.

Worried sick

“It is difficult to live when you’re full of worries about getting sick,’’ she said.

Every year, about 2,000,000 children around the world die of diseases caused by dirty water and poor sanitation. World Water Day is an opportunity for communities and policy makers to focus on how to tackle this tragic reality.

Ray of hope

But Capaculan is now a ray of hope rather than a dismal statistic. Last year, Plan collaborated in the introduction of bio-sand filters, a clean water technology, at school.

Children were taught how to use and maintain them and then after classes, were allowed to take them home for their families. 

Cases of diarrhoea and other illnesses related to unclean water are much rarer now.

Safe water

“Today, all my worries about getting sick, being late for my classes, and my parents incurring additional expenses are gone. I can now concentrate on my studies and have more time with my friends and with my family,’’ Camille says.

“I am extending my sincere thanks to Plan for helping me and my fellow children in our community.’’

Plan action

As part of the 2008 International Year of Sanitation, Plan is working to help other communities across the globe reduce the risk to children’s health caused by dirty water and poor sanitation.

In recent months, 10 country offices have begun Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) programmes. CLTS is a radical new approach to ending open defecation which focuses on convincing communities to keep their local environments clean.

The countries are Indonesia, Timor Leste, Pakistan, Philippines (pilot project), Kenya, Tanzania, Zimababwe, Uganda, Malawi and Egypt.

Find out more about Plan's new CLTS programmes

Learn about Plan's global water and sanitation work