The Water Filtration Project

Rural Nicaraguans face a critical challenge: their groundwater is contaminated with heavy metals from volcanic soil, causing severe health issues. Despite having wells, the water poses significant risks, particularly for children and adults who have developed chronic health conditions from years of consumption. Many adults rely on medication to alleviate these issues, highlighting the urgent need for a sustainable solution.

Our team developed an innovative approach to address this problem. Recognizing that traditional filters are unsustainable due to high costs and maintenance needs, we sought a locally sourced and supported solution. By engaging with community members and observing available materials, we identified clay soil and coffee grounds as ideal components for a filter. Research focused on optimizing ratios and building techniques to create a cost-effective and efficient filtration system.

The solution involves forming a clay-based substance mixed with coffee grounds into large "hockey puck" shapes, which are then fired in an oven until cured. This process creates a porous structure capable of removing contaminants from the water. By fitting these pucks into stacked 5-gallon buckets, we created a low-cost, locally produced filter. This not only solves the issue of contaminated water but also provides locals with a potential business opportunity to produce and distribute these filters throughout surrounding communities.