COMMUNITY OUTREACH, WATER RESOURCES ASSESSMENT, AND SAWYER FILTER EVALUATION NEAR DESCHAPELLES, HAITI

In May and June of 2017, the Grand Valley State University faculty led study abroad program distributed Sawyer filters in the viscinity of Deschapelles, Haiti. These filters will provide cleaner water for hundreds of people. Measurements from 15 distributed filters were obtained to examine efficiency of the filtering out of fecal coliforms along with E. coli. The Colilert-18 method was used to measure the most probable number (MPN) of filtered and unfiltered water samples.

In 2016, 20 hand dug wells were sampled near Deschapelles, Haiti. Poor water quality in these wells (average E. coli 817.8 MPN with a geometric mean of 257.0 MPN) revealed a need for water filtration. In 2017 approximately 50 Sawyer 0.1 micron fiber membrane filters were distributed to residences in the vicinity of the 2016 study area. The Sawyer filters were installed in 5 gallon buckets, in which holes had been drilled. 2017 testing of unfiltered source water from hand dug wells (N=15) indicates this water source remains unsafe for drinking and domestic uses (average E. coli 283.6 MPN with a geometric mean of 25.5 MPN; average coliform 2084.9 MPN, and geometric mean of 1489.7 MPN). Filtered water from the same sources suggests that 0.1 micron Sawyer filters are effective at removing all E. coli ( average and geometric mean of 0.0 MPN), as well as significantly reducing coliform (average 207.6 MPN, and geometric mean of 2.5 MPN) .

While many Haitians understand that the water they are drinking is contaminated, the lack of understanding about the filter technology, along with adapting to a routine that includes consistent use of the filters and maintenance, results in inconsistent and sporadic adoption of the filter technology. Community health workers, employed by a local hospital, can provide crucial information, consistent training, and support to make implementation of this effective filtration technology sustainable.