Potters Without Borders and Potters for Peace had the opportunity to display Ceramic Water Filter Technology at a recent exhibition in New York.
“Designers, engineers, students and professors, architects, and social entrepreneurs from all over the globe are devising cost-effective ways to increase access to food and water, energy, education, healthcare, revenue-generating activities, and affordable transportation for those who most need them. And an increasing number of initiatives are providing solutions for underserved populations in developed countries such as the United States.”
Ceramic Water Filter, Cambodia
Designers: Dr. Fernando Mazariegos, Ron Rivera (Potters for Peace), and International Development Enterprises (IDE) Cambodia
Manufacturer: Local private factory set up by IDE
Cambodia, 2006
Ceramic clay, plastic container, colloidal silver paint
Dimensions: 3.5’ h x 2’ w x 2’ d
Ceramic Water Filter, Nepal
Designer: IDE Nepal
Manufacturer: Local potter set up by IDE
Nepal, 2006
Ceramic clay, plastic container, colloidal silver paint
Dimensions: 3.5’ h x 2’ w x 2’ d
Ceramic Water Filter, Nicaragua
Designers: Dr. Fernando Mazariegos and Ron Rivera (Potters for Peace)
Manufacturer: Filtron
Nicaragua and Guatemala, 2006
Local Nicaraguan terra-cotta clay, sawdust
Dimensions: 18” h x 15” diameter
In use in: Cambodia, Guatemala, Ecuador, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Cuba, Haiti, Mexico, India, Nepal, Indonesia (Bali), Ghana, Iraq, Myanmar, Sudan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam
Originally designed by Dr. Fernando Mazareigos, a Guatemalan chemist, the Ceramic Water Filter combines the filtration capability of ceramic material with the anti-bacteriological qualities of colloidal silver. This filter has basic, yet impressive, impact on the lives of the rural poor, dramatically decreasing diarrhea, days of school or work missed due to illness, and medical expenses. A sociologist and potter, Ron Rivera of Potters for Peace redesigned the filter to standardize mass production in sixteen small production facilities in fourteen different countries. It is estimated that over 500,000 people have used the filter.
