Groundwater Challenge

Due to the high poverty rate in Sohag Governorate, a lot of people have no choice but to drink from wells with what it carries from minerals, sediments and microbes. Filters only last for 6 months due to the high intensity of minerals in the water, despite using high quality and expensive ones. The challenge aims to create a cheaper filter that lasts for at least a year, and is accessible to all citizens of the community.

There are many challenges facing Egypt and especially villages in Sohag Governorate, most of all drinking water because of how vital it is for all life forms. 70% of citizens drink water from the Nile and 30% drink from wells, with what it carries from minerals, sediments, microbes and high intensity of manganese element as well as other components and elements such as arsenic and radioactive elements like uranium, that all have hazardous effects on whoever drinks or uses it for washing or for animals or in agriculture. It’s also contaminated with sewage bacteria, as there are 81% of citizens without sanitation services increasing the water pollution problem.

Due to the 55% poverty rate in the governorate, a large portion of the citizens have no choice but to use it as well as animals and birds, which we utilize their meat and milk, animals could also die before they’re utilized which harms the community’s mentality in general. We have tried to overcome this problem by using expensive and high quality filters but due to the high rate of minerals in groundwater, the filters are ruined in less than 6 months.There are many challenges facing Egypt and especially villages in Sohag Governorate, most of all drinking water because of how vital it is for all life forms. 70% of citizens drink water from the Nile and 30% drink from wells, with what it carries from minerals, sediments, microbes and high number of manganese element as well as other components and elements such as arsenic and radioactive elements like uranium, that all have hazardous effects on whoever drinks or uses it for washing or for animals or in agriculture.

It’s also contaminated with sewage bacteria, as there are 81% of citizens without sanitation services increasing the water pollution problem. Due to the 55% poverty rate in the governorate, a large portion of the citizens have no choice but to use it as well as animals and birds, which we utilize their meat and milk, animals could also die before they’re utilized which harms the community’s mentality in general. We have tried to overcome this problem by using expensive and high quality filters but due to the high rate of minerals in groundwater, the filters are ruined in less than 6 months.

Designing an affordable and longer lasting filter and solving this problem will decrease the fatality rate, the infection rate with modern diseases and increase the productivity rate as the people of the community will be healthier and in better spirits in general.

Sohag Governorate’s population count in 2014 was 4,469,151 (according to the CAPMAS website), on average 2,904,948 will drink water from wells and are in need of filters.

We need new affordable and high quality filters that meet these criteria:

1. Cost: no more 185 EGP
2. Durability: for at least 1 year
3. Usability: Easy to use and install

The winner will receive a 6000 EGP financial award.

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