Results from household ceramic filter evaluation in northern Ghana

This paper outlines Pure Home Water’s efforts to promote household drinking water treatment and safe storage (HWTS) products to low income customers in the Northern Region of Ghana and describes the research performed to improve upon PHW’s success. Epidemiological surveys and water quality testing were conducted in January 2006 and January 2007 in order to obtain baseline data on drinking water and sanitation practices and to evaluate the effectiveness of PHW’s program. It was found that traditional communities have a great need for access to improved water supplies, and PHW is effectively reaching these households by offering ceramic filters at a segmented market price and by managing several marketing campaigns. The surveys found that users are satisfied with the product. According to the water quality tests, the filters are performing well in the field; in traditional households, for example, E. coli removal rates averaged 99.7% when tested with membrane filtration.