Solidarités International and its HAACT programme
30 ORISA® in Telemces, Tahoua region
This distribution is the result of an analysis of humanitarian needs carried out remotely by SI's HAACT programme. Since 2021, the village of Telemces has seen a massive influx of internally displaced people and refugees from Mali. The analysis revealed a worrying situation in terms of access to drinking water following the breakdown of the village's main drinking water supply. This failure forced the most vulnerable households to obtain their drinking water from unprotected sources (wells, ponds, marshes).
Deployment in collaboration between SI/HAACT and ADKOUL
In response to this need, SI, in collaboration with the national NGO ADKOUL, identified 30 vulnerable households from host, IDP and refugee communities. Each household received an ORISA® water purification filter to improve their access to drinking water. An innovative technology, the ORISA® filter is a self-contained water purifier with ultrafiltration membranes and an integrated backwash system. It can be fully repaired, dismantled and recycled.
Use of ORISA® by beneficiaries
Four months after the filters were distributed, a post-distribution follow-up survey was carried out to assess the adoption of the solution by beneficiaries. The results showed that all the beneficiaries were using their filter and said that it fully met their needs.
The use of unprotected water sources was a key criterion for selecting filter beneficiary households. All households filter water from unprotected sources (cemented wells, traditional wells, marigots). The filters are functional and used daily by all households that filter water at home. The filtered water is used for drinking and cooking.
Within households, women are the main people responsible for responsible for using and maintaining the filters. On average, beneficiary households filter between 25 and 75 litres of water per day, without any significant physical effort or hardship. Some of the beneficiaries lend their filters to their neighbours, which makes it possible to meet the drinking water needs of part of the population of Telemces.
Encouraging initial results
Initial results show that this first pilot project carried out by SI/ HAACT in partnership with the national NGO ADKOUL has resulted in the successful adoption of the filters by beneficiaries, who appreciate their ease of use and maintenance, as well as their impact in terms of saving money and reducing water-borne diseases. Post-distribution monitoring provided an opportunity to reiterate key messages and raise awareness among beneficiary households about the proper use of ORISA® purifying filters in order to ensure their longevity.
135 ORISA® in Ayorou, Tillabéry region
In December 2023, HAACT/SI distributed ORISA® filters to 133 households and 2 ORISA® filters to the Inates Health Centre in Ayorou to improve access to drinking water. This initiative was a response to the lack of sufficient infrastructure in the region, forcing some displaced people and refugees to draw water directly from the river. Eight months later, in August 2024, a follow-up survey of 32 beneficiary households was carried out to assess the impact of the distribution.
The use of ORISA® filters by beneficiaries
The survey reveals that filters are mainly used for drinking and cooking water, with a daily consumption of around 50 to 75 litres of filtered water per household. Most households obtain their water from unprotected sources, which they then filter. As far as storage is concerned, most households filter large quantities of water and use clean containers, although some are without lids. Most clean their containers regularly, but some consume the water without filtering it again. Finally, the survey shows that ORISA® water purifiers are frequently shared with neighbours or the community.
A beneficial, economical and ecological solution
Amount saved per day thanks to the ORISA® filter
The impact of ORISA® in everyday life
Beneficiaries have noted an improvement in water quality since the filter was installed, particularly in terms of taste, odour and colour, and a reduction in water-borne diseases.
Another important impact concerns the economic aspect. On average, households save between 100 and 500 CFA francs a day by using free water sources rather than paying for it.
As far as filter maintenance is concerned, although the majority of beneficiaries are familiar with good hygiene practices, such as washing their hands and cleaning the storage container, most do not practise backwashing.
Expertise born of humanitarian experience
ORISA® was designed on the basis of the field experience of a former humanitarian aid worker, David Monnier, who initially co-founded the company, and developed in response to specifications drawn up with the involvement of major French and international NGOs: Médecins sans Frontières, Croix Rouge Française, Solidarités International, Médecins du Monde, Handicap International, Terres des Hommes Lausanne, Premières Urgences.
‘Adapt and make affordable filtration technologies for everyone's use, to meet the social and ecological challenges of our time.’
Anthony Cailleau, French representative for projects in Colombia, President and co-founder of Fonto de vivo. Contact for development aid and international cooperation.
