Bio-Sand water filtration systems are providing effective water treatment solutions for families in Tonkolili

June 6, 2025

Haja fetching water from a Bio-Sand Water Filtration facility in Tonkolili. This is her first experience getting water from a tap.

Many Sierra Leoneans rely on contaminated sources for drinking water, which, along with inadequate sanitation, contributes to various health issues in the country. Very few have access to piped water in their homes, leaving women and children to search for this essential resource outside. The author of this piece shares this experience.

Even in the capital, Freetown, many residents depend on sachet water from manufacturing companies, though its purity is often uncertain. If those in the capital face such difficulties, life is even harder for the majority of the population in underdeveloped areas. Haja, 9, shares this experience, too.

For years, her community in Tonkolili District collected water from an open pond that was vulnerable to contamination, especially during the rainy season, when trash and even human waste would flow into it.

This was causing illnesses such as diarrhea, typhoid and other water-borne related diseases. A child never forgets the pain they endured growing up. The harsh memories of typhoid and diarrhea still linger in Haja’s mind. “In 2023, ChildFund, working with its partner, Munafa M’Patie Federation, introduced the bio-sand water filtration system, a new technology to Haja’s community. The bio-sand filter (BSF) is a simple, household water treatment device that builds on traditional slow sand filters but is specifically designed for intermittent use.

Adamse, a mother of three, from Haja’s community fetching water from their new biosand water filtration facility.

A BSF consists of a concrete or plastic container filled with specially prepared sand and gravel. As water passes through the filter, it removes pathogens, iron, turbidity, and manganese through physical straining.

This project was made possible by Procter & Gamble’s (P&G) funding of the Children’s Safe Drinking Water initiative, implemented by ChildFund since 2019. Now, over 500 people in Haja’s community are drinking safe, clean water.