NGO Another Way (Stichting Bakens Verzet), 1018 AM
SELF-FINANCING, ECOLOGICAL,
SUSTAINABLE, LOCAL INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FOR THE WORLD’S POOR
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FREE E-COURSE FOR DIPLOMA IN |
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Edition 03 : 04 August, 2010.
Edition 05 : 29 July, 2013.
SOME RECOMMENDED DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGIES
Moringa filters are
improved traditional bio-sand filters, which can already be adapted to filter
arsenic by the addition of a layer of rusted nail in the diffuser basin. The
rust absorbs arsenic from water and flakes off the nails, which are then trapped by the sand layer. (Beya, S., Humble
filter makes a comeback, Down to Earth Magazine, Society for Environmental Communications,
Locally
built Moringa sand filters for water purification
The 13 known species
of Moringa or horseradish trees have interesting
properties for use in integrated development projects. All parts of the trees,
which grow quickly in almost any soil conditions, have useful applications. The
specific application dealt with in this section
is water purification in conjunction with biosand
filters. The seed of the Moringa tree, and of the
species Moringa Oleifera in
particular, has recognised medicinal
properties. Diaphragms made from crushed Moringa seed
fibres, following extraction of the 40% of valuable oil contained in the seeds,
are placed on top of a locally built biosand filter.
Water which has passed through these filters is clean and fit for direct human
consumption. Within the framework of sustainable integrated development
projects under the Model here presented, Moringa biosand filters can be used by the inhabitants of the
project area to filter harvested rainwater as back-up for their normal clean
drinking water supplies.
In emergencies, Moringa seed milk can be used to purify drinking water
where biosand
filters are not available.
Some
information on the Moringa (Horseradish) tree.
General
information on the Moringa Oleifera
(Horseradish) tree.
How to grow Moringa trees (Trees for Life).
Biosand filters.
Information on BioSand filters (Tear Fund).
Construction of biosand filters.
How to make a Moringa biosand filter.
How to
prepare the Moringa seed paste for the diaphragm.
Crush the seed kernels to
extract the oil, which can be used for food, for cooking, for soap-making or
other applications. This can be done by hand or mechnically.
The seed cake left is then
mixed with a small quantity of water to form a paste. About 6000mg
of ground moringa seeds should be used with one liter of water for
this purpose.
Form a 2cm
thick layer of the paste on top of the biosandfilter
materials.
Add water through the diffuser
plate in the biosand filter and agitate/stir
regularly thereafter.
The moringa
paste should be stirred once in a day for 5-10 minutes once water is being
filtered.
The 2cm
paste layer should be removed (and
replaced) at least every 7-14 days. The preferred thickness of 2cm model optimises performance and checks the likely
retardation in water passage (plugging) of the biosand
filter.
It is not necessary to add
proprietary chemicals like chlorine to biosand
filters fitted with a 2cm layer of moringa seed paste. The effective coagulation properties of
the moringa oleifera paste
makes post filtration chlorination unnecessary.
How
to prepare Moringa seed milk to purify drinking water in emergencies.
Allow the moringa
seed pods to dry naturally on the tree before harvesting them.
Remove the moringa seed husks, leaving a whitish
kernel.
Crush the seed kernel to a powder with a stone or a mortar.
Mix the powder with a small quantity of clean water in a small cup.
Pour the mixture through a tea strainer or sieve into a cup. It's best to cover
the strainer with a piece of clean cloth.
Add the resulting milky fluid to the water you wish to purify.
Stir quickly for 30 seconds, then slowly and regularly for 5 minutes.
Cover the water and do not disturb it for at least an hour.
The clean water may be siphoned off the top of the container.
For more information on Moringa sand filters refer to:
The Rural African Water Development Project in Nigeria and the
status of the introduction of the Moringa Sand Filter
there.
Back to:
"Money is not the key that opens the gates of the market but the
bolt that bars them."
Gesell, Silvio, The Natural Economic Order,
revised English edition, Peter Owen,
“Poverty is created scarcity”
Wahu Kaara,
point 8 of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, 58th annual
NGO Conference, United Nations,
"In the end, it's about love for mankind. Freedom begins with love.
Our challenge is to learn to love the world"
Nigerian writer Ben Okri, interview in Ode
Magazine, Dec 2002-Jan 2003, p.49
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