INNOVATIVE WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM FOR GOOD HEALTH.

We are proposing to construct adsorption-based Biofilters that can provide safe drinking water.

The Biosand filters of five layer matrix would be constructed from local materials such as cement, river sand, gravel and PVC pipes and sold at a very affordable price. And they would be modified with Iron and Manganese oxide coated brick chips.

Water enters the filters and filters first through the coarse river sand and composite Iron and Manganese oxides. While the sand traps coarse particles, composite Iron and Manganese oxides adsorb dissolved toxic metals. At the bottom of the filter bed, the fine river sand will remove fine particles in the water and the non coated bricks stabilize the water flow. With relatively good aeration, the oxidant/adsorbent Iron and Manganese oxides will be continuously regenerate in situ by the activities of Iron - and Manganese-oxidizing bacteria that would be immobilized in the filter bed. 

This solution will serve to improve the water quality of the people greatly and ensure that the water related epidemic outbreak in the areas is reduced and subsequently eradicated. It shall provide clean and safe drinking water, both in terms of pathogens and toxic heavy metals such as Arsenic, Iron, Manganese, Lead and Fluoride, and then save the lives of thousands of people living in these areas. On the Economic impact, their direct income will be retained from the expenses due to curing of water borne illnesses. It will save the costs from time and energy from perhaps boiling water. Productivity of these rural dwellers will also be increased due to better health conditions.

These villages have several sources of water like the local Wells and Boreholes which Government and some NGOs built. However, their water problem lies on their water often contaminated by organic and inorganic contaminants which has resulted in serious all-year-round health challenges among the people. The sources of these water contaminants are perhaps due to illegal mining activities by the locals in these areas and poor sanitation of the people.

Our project is of global target; but for now, we have proposed to commence operation in 15 villages of Zamfara state Nigeria, comprising more than 2000 poor households which have been suffering from serious water-related health issues over a decade. An example of these vulnerable populations is located in three Local Government Areas (Anka, Bunkuyum and Maru) of the state. Some of the villages are Abare, Tungare, Guru, Tungar, Daji, Sunke, Bagega and Duza. They have large reproductive capacity because their men are polygamous. Most of them are very poor and uneducated, and there population is over 20000. 

The solution shall impact lives because it sustains management of water and sanitation for all; and as a result,many lives will be saved leading to economic and productivity impacts of the society. On the Economic impact, people's direct income shall be retained from the expenses due to curing of water borne diseases. It will save the costs from time and energy from perhaps boiling water. And due to better health conditions, their productivity would be increased.

We are proposing to design and mass-produce portable, low-cost, adsorption-based Biosand filter units that can provide clean and safe drinking water for poor households facing serious water related epidemic outbreak in Nigeria.

The Biosand filters are designed and constructed from local materials such as cement, river sand, gravel and PVC pipes and sold to these communities at a very affordable price.

They would be modified with Iron oxides - and Manganese oxides coated brick chips. The filter bed would be a five layered matrix with coarse river sand on top of the matrix followed by Manganese oxides - and Iron oxides - coated bricks separated by wood charcoal, and the last layer of fine river sand mixed with non-coated bricks.

Water enters the filtration units and filters first through the coarse river sand and composite Iron and Manganese oxides. While the sand traps coarse particles, composite Iron and Manganese oxides adsorb dissolved toxic metals. If As(iii) is present in the influence water, it will be oxidized by the Manganese oxides to As(v), which is easily removed by Iron oxides. At the bottom of the filter bed, the fine river sand will remove fine particles in the water and the non coated bricks stabilize the water flow. With relatively good aeration, the oxidant/adsorbent Iron and Manganese oxides will be continuously regenerate in situ by the activities of Iron - and Manganese-oxidizing bacteria that would be immobilized in the filter bed. Application of water is manual using containers, but it can be automated with overhead tank for those that can afford it.

Unlike the most common types of Biosand filters used in most African communities today, this current and innovative Biosand filters are modified for dual functions which are simultaneous removal of harmful microorganisms and heavy metal contaminants from water by a combination of biological and physicochemical sorption processes. Another great advantage of the system is its non recurring costs which are always associated with other water treatment methods. Above all, it is sustainable and easy to use by poor, uneducated people.

They would be modified with Iron oxides - and Manganese oxides coated brick chips. The filter bed would be a five layered matrix with coarse river sand on top of the matrix followed by Manganese oxides - and Iron oxides - coated bricks separated by wood charcoal, and the last layer of fine river sand mixed with non-coated bricks.

Unlike the most common types of Biosand filters used in most African communities today, this current and innovative Biosand filters are modified for dual functions which are simultaneous removal of harmful microorganisms and heavy metal contaminants from water by a combination of biological and physicochemical sorption processes. Another great advantage of the system is its non recurring costs which are always associated with other water treatment methods. Above all, it is sustainable and easy to use by poor, uneducated people.

The Biosand filters are to be designed and constructed from local materials such as cement, river sand, gravel and PVC pipes and sold to these communities at a very affordable price.

They would be modified with Iron oxides - and Manganese oxides coated brick chips. The filter bed would be a five layered matrix with coarse river sand on top of the matrix followed by Manganese oxides - and Iron oxides - coated bricks separated by wood charcoal, and the last layer of fine river sand mixed with non-coated bricks.

Water enters the filtration units and filters first through the coarse river sand and composite Iron and Manganese oxides. While the sand traps coarse particles, composite Iron and Manganese oxides adsorb dissolved toxic metals. If As(iii) is present in the influence water, it will be oxidized by the Manganese oxides to As(v), which is easily removed by Iron oxides. At the bottom of the filter bed, the fine river sand will remove fine particles in the water and the non coated bricks stabilize the water flow. With relatively good aeration, the oxidant/adsorbent Iron and Manganese oxides will be continuously regenerate in situ by the activities of Iron - and Manganese-oxidizing bacteria that would be immobilized in the filter bed. Application of water is manual using containers, but it can be automated with overhead tank for those that can afford it.

The solution has been tested successfully as it was part of my Masters Degree project in Biochemistry department. Before the project topic was chosen, I thought out of the box that one of the major ways to improve the water standard of Nigerian communities being ravage by water related epidemic is the use of Biosand filters which are user and environmental friendly, cheap and easy to build from local materials. The project was successfully tested in the laboratory but due to financial constraint, we could not test it in the field.

The project study was carried out in Sokoto state Nigeria. The casting procedure of the Biosand filter was adopted from the Biosand filter construction guidelines at http://www.biosandfilter.org/b... filter/.

Water samples were collected from each of the affected communities in Zamfara state Nigeria; the areas where the fatal cases of water contamination and Lead poisoning often occur.

Subsequent evaluation of the efficacy of the Iron oxide and Manganese oxide modified Biosand on the removal of organic and inorganic contaminants from the water samples was carried out and successful results were achieved. I have already organized a group of seminar to great awareness for the initiative.

Our Initiative will take place in 15 villages of more than 2000 households in Zamfara state Nigeria which have been suffering from serious water-related health issues for more than a decade. They are located in three Local Government Areas of Anka, Bunkuyum and Maru. Some of them are Abare, Tungare, Guru, Tungar, Daji, Sunke, Bagega and Duza.

They were worst hit by Cholera outbreak in 2010. That same year also, Lead (Pb) poisoning epidemic existed. These ugly incidences resulted in the death of more than 1000 people mainly children under the age of five. Since then, several unreported similar cases have been occurring. They out-broke in 2011, 2015, 2017 and 2018.

I dream to see a future global change when water qualities of rural communities is greatly enhanced; a future when global rural communities are free from outbreak of water-related diseases; a future when the drinking, bathing, washing and cooking water of these poor communities are free from pathogens and toxic chemicals which have, up till date, been compromising the health, economy and productivity of global rural dwellers.

My choice of using policy making to tackle this nagging challenge could not be over emphasized. Already, I have thought out of the box and found out that, the use of locally modified biosand filters, supported by strategic policies, is the way to go. 

In order to achieve this dream, the targeted poor dwellers shall be given innovative training on how to design and build self-household biosand water filters from locally available materials. Some of these materials include cement, gravel and sand.

We are having financial constraints. But we may not have much technical and legal issues because we have the technical know-how and our business is legally registered. Marketing will be encouraging because the target customers are in dire need of our solution.

By seeking for external funding into our project.

Full time staff: 10

Part time staff: 17

Voluteers: 20

I was a co-researcher in Imo State (Nigeria) Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Survey Project, 2016 and also the Financial Secretary of Postgraduate Students Association Sokoto and Ahiazu Community Youth Union from 2015 to 2017 and 2016 till date respectively.

one of my team members had first award in 2002 in my secondary school Annual Inter-House Sports competition at Paternoster Secondary School Ekwerazu in Imo State Nigeria. Since then, most other awards have been educational awarded. 

another of my members have also done several educational projects starting from his first degree project up to my master’s degree project. 

some of my members have made several publications both in local and international papers and journal.  For example, below are some of the lists of my publications.

Phytoremediation Potential of Ipomoea asarifolia on Lead-Polluted Soils Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences (2018), 11 (1): 307-307

 Phytoremediation of Heavy Metal Pollutants in Soils Using Ipomoea asarifolia L. (DESR.) ROEM. & SCHULT.  Journal of Botanical Society of Nigeria (2017), Pp 75.          

 Chromium (VI) chloride (CrCl6) Phytoremediation Potential of Ipomoea asarifolia  in Artificially Polluted Soils (in progress……)

1) Government Agency for Water Sanitation

2) Tony Elumelu Foundation

I have been working with them delightedly so far.

Once the initiative is operating, funds to sustain the business would be generated from the state and local government who whom we are optimistic to pick interest to support the project because of its intending positive impact in these affected communities.

Sustainability funds shall also be generated from the locals who happen to be the target customers. As every household buys and uses our Biosand filters, they are directly and indirectly generating funds for the sustainability of the project. These customers live in rural areas of three Local Government Areas (LGA) of Zamfara state Nigeria. They are up to 5000 people and have large reproductive capacity because men of the areas marry more than one wife. Most of them are very poor and uneducated; and it is on this basis that we have considered reducing the price of the Biosand filter to €30 so that most households will afford buying and using the Biosand filters.

SOLVE can help me overcome my entrepreneurship barriers in this field of my endeavor in many ways. The anticipated would-be project development training and mentor-ship of SOLVE will help us to handle the business more effective. We shall also utilize the ideas of the training and mentor-ship to train our customer service executives to be able to handle our customers well no matter the situation. We know that if we carry out these measures, we are likely to not only sustained our business but also expand it as well. Participating in SOLVE connect and Network membership will also help us to be more active in social activities and other relevant programs; it is hoped that we would have more idea of the use of a rigid website and platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to vigorously promote our business in Nigeria. The last but not the least is the anticipated impact of the $5000 in seed capital which would successfully start up and run our smart, problem solving and economy driven Project. In a nutshell, partnering with SOLVE, no doubt, has greater advantages to us; it is a potential opportunity for a widening our project and its expansion beyond our horizon, for us to utilize our solution effectively to solve water related challenges facing numerous countries of the world.

1) Government Agency for water sanitation

2) Tony Elumelu Foundation

I love to partner with them because they are closely related to m field of solution.

The Al Innovation Prize Programme is hoped to impact positively to our business. The business development training and mentor-ship of the Foundation would help us handle the business more effective. We shall also utilize the ideas of the training and mentor-ship to train our customer service executives to be able to handle our customers well no matter the situation. We know that if we carry out these measures, we are likely to not only sustained our business but also expand it as well. Participating in the Al Innovation connect and Network membership will also help us to be more active in social activities and other relevant programs; it is hoped that we would have more idea of the use of a rigid website and platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to vigorously promote our business in Nigeria. The last but not the least is the anticipated impact of the seed capital which would successfully start up and run our smart and economy driven business. The bulk of the capital would be used to pay employees salaries for a period of one year, lease a vehicle as well as lease a facility that we would use for certain reasonable periods.

The Prize Programme is hoped to impact positively to our business. The business development training and mentor-ship of the Foundation would help us handle the business more effective. We shall also utilize the ideas of the training and mentor-ship to train our customer service executives to be able to handle our customers well no matter the situation. We know that if we carry out these measures, we are likely to not only sustained our business but also expand it as well. Participating in the Innovation's connect and Network membership will also help us to be more active in social activities and other relevant programs; it is hoped that we would have more idea of the use of a rigid website and platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to vigorously promote our business in Nigeria. The last but not the least is the anticipated impact of the seed capital which would successfully start up and run our smart and economy driven business. The bulk of the capital would be used to pay employees salaries for a period of one year, lease a vehicle as well as lease a facility that we would use for certain reasonable periods.

The Al Innovation Prize Programme is hoped to impact positively to our business. The business development training and mentor-ship of the Foundation would help us handle the business more effective. We shall also utilize the ideas of the training and mentor-ship to train our customer service executives to be able to handle our customers well no matter the situation. We know that if we carry out these measures, we are likely to not only sustained our business but also expand it as well. Participating in the Al Innovation connect and Network membership will also help us to be more active in social activities and other relevant programs; it is hoped that we would have more idea of the use of a rigid website and platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to vigorously promote our business in Nigeria. The last but not the least is the anticipated impact of the seed capital which would successfully start up and run our smart and economy driven business. The bulk of the capital would be used to pay employees salaries for a period of one year, lease a vehicle as well as lease a facility that we would use for certain reasonable periods.

The Al Innovation Prize Programme is hoped to impact positively to our business. The business development training and mentor-ship of the Foundation would help us handle the business more effective. We shall also utilize the ideas of the training and mentor-ship to train our customer service executives to be able to handle our customers well no matter the situation. We know that if we carry out these measures, we are likely to not only sustained our business but also expand it as well. Participating in the Al Innovation connect and Network membership will also help us to be more active in social activities and other relevant programs; it is hoped that we would have more idea of the use of a rigid website and platforms such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to vigorously promote our business in Nigeria. The last but not the least is the anticipated impact of the seed capital which would successfully start up and run our smart and economy driven business. The bulk of the capital would be used to pay employees salaries for a period of one year, lease a vehicle as well as lease a facility that we would use for certain reasonable periods.