Alternative water filtration materials, technologies, practices and sources of knowledge in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) and high rainfall areas

Abstract

Indigenous knowledge and practices (IKP) can be incorporated into low-tech environmentally sustainable water filtration methods for low-income rural Sub- Saharan African communities. This study sought to identify alternative water filtration materials, technologies, practices and sources of this knowledge in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands and high rainfall regions. Adult household heads were interviewed through the administration of open and close ended questionnaires. From the respondents, 25% of the arid and semi-arid lands used clay vessels, 62.5% gravel and pebbles, and 12.5% bark of Acacia albida. Out of respondents from high rainfall areas, 59% used clay vessels, 27% gravel and pebbles, 14% leaves of Rhus natalensis, and 25% filtration with cloth. The major technologies used by respondents from arid and semi-arid lands were sedimentation (36%), sun heating (27%) and filtration using gravel and pebbles (21%) while those from high rainfall regions mainly used filtration with clay pots (28%), leaves of plants (21%) and boiling (18%). Respondents from arid and semi-arid lands indicated that 9% gained this knowledge by word of mouth, and 91% through observation, while 17% from the high rainfall regions by word of mouth and 83% from observation. The findings indicated that different communities applied the various technologies in a customized way. Traditional water filtration materials are eco-friendly, cost-effective and easily adaptable, and their use should be encouraged. Conventional methods should seek to modify and improve these methods to ensure higher purification efficiency.