The Poor cannot afford anything.

Please permit me to share my thoughts with you on this platform.I will however thank the forum organizers for this opportunity created for cross-breeding of views and ideas.I am afraid I could not read the background paper for obvious reasons.
I come from a rural community in Africa where household water treatment is as old as the community itself.The renewed current focus on Household water treatment and safe storage I believe is basically to upscale appropriate HHWTS adoption with a view at giving meaning to the target established in the MDGs to half the proportion of people without access to safe drinking and sanitation by 2015.
The African Water Development Report (AWDR) which was launched in Mexico city on March 19 had it in black and white that the water problem in Africa is not necessarily one of physical water scarcity but structurally induced scarcity caused by low level of infrastructure and socio-economic development.But beyond this argument is the central issue of clean water.Safe drinking water is the core issue on the MDGs list,NOT mere drinking water.The government tend to hands-off and beat its chest in self congratulations once it succesfully sinks one borehole or well.My work experience have shown that water assessed from improved sources such as boreholes,lined wells,protected springs or household piped connections may not always be SAFE.
The sinking of water boreholes or wells in poor neighbourhoods should not be allowed to eclipse the promotion or adoption of HHWTS.This is so because most of these water boreholes are often vulnerable to problems such as the incrustation of calcium carbonates,iron manganese and bacteria slimes on the inner linnings of casing materials.Other problems could be caused by improperly flused-out drilling particles such as bentonites and polymers etc.and cuttings from annular space between well screen and formation walls.Their are also threats posed by leachate plumes and organic growth from oxygen intake during pumping.
In developed countries where the institutions are strong,problem could arise.An example is the Walkerton Canada tragedy of 2000,which is a clear
example of a failed improved source.Severn Trent Water UK recently embarked on investigations to discover what could be polluting and destroying Blackbrook Reservoir,another example of improved water supply source for many people living in the Leicestershire area of the UK.In Africa the institutions are non-existent and even if there, very weak.This therefore underscores the importance of sustaining the HHWTS campaign in Africa.
The poor in absolute term cannot afford anything.If leveraging innovations is to be leaned on affordability then sustained adoption will be grossly constrained.It is my view that adequate recognition be accorded HHWTS in the scheme of things globally.It is not enough to make political declarations that support source improvements without any direct linking with HHWTS. HHWTS should be recognised properly and mainstreamed.It is the government that is capable of giving NGO promoters the basic on-the-ground support to make progress.An innovative strategy could be worked out that will enable the poor buy and use HHWTS.In Rural Africa Water Development Project (RAWDP) our core competence is on household water treatment using indigenous resources.We build on what is already in existence,improving on it and making the people see and appreciate the level of improvement.Why are we relunctant to talk about a coagulant like moringa oleifera seeds.It is one of the oldest and proven water treatment options in Africa.Why ignore it when its recognition can make a lot of difference.Arguments proposed against it encouraged RAWDP to improve on it to design the Mor-sand Filter.The poor now see the difference without much protocol.
Thanks,
Joachim Ezeji
Programme Coordinator/CEO
RAWDP Nigeria.