Evidence Action
Chlorine dispensers are helping villagers access safe water
Over two billion people worldwide still lack safe drinking water. Contaminated water causes diarrhoea, among other things, which is a major cause of death among children under five. Chlorine dispensers installed at local water sources provide an effective and low-cost solution.
People in rural Africa often draw their drinking water from open water sources and shallow wells. These are prone to contamination, resulting in the risk of disease. The chlorination of water functions as a preventive measure. Since 2015, Dioraphte has been contributing to a solution based on research by Nobel laureate Michael Kremer: the installation of a chlorine dispenser next to every local water source. The cost: €1.40 per person per year.
Three days of safety
A simple but effective idea. The villager visits a water source, places a jerry can underneath the dispenser, turns a valve to add the correct dose of chlorine and then fills the jerry can with water. The chlorine disinfects the water during the walk back home. Once back at home, the water will be safe to drink for up to three days.
Embedded locally
An important key to the success of the project involves it becoming embedded within the community. In total, 100,000 local volunteers maintain and refill these dispensers while also promoting their use. Now big funders are also contributing financially, which is why Evidence Action has already managed to reach some 10 million people in Kenya, Uganda and Malawi alone as of year-end 2023.