Project Concept,Partnership and Future Plan

A Community-Owned Modular Water Purification System

Why This Project Matters

Access to safe drinking water remains a challenge for many families in Kenya. In Kisumu and surrounding communities, people often rely on tap water, community pumps, wells, and surface water sources whose quality is not always known. Water can contain sediment, bacteria, and other contaminants that may cause disease.

As a father, I want my daughter, Aduvan, to grow up without worrying about whether the water she drinks is safe. At the same time, I believe communities should not depend entirely on expensive imported technologies to solve local problems.

This project explores how digital fabrication, electronics, and locally available materials can be combined to create an affordable water purification system that communities can build, maintain, and improve themselves.

Project Vision

The goal is not only to build a water purifier.

The goal is to create an open and community-owned platform that enables people to:

• Access safer drinking water
• Understand how the system works
• Repair and maintain it locally
• Fabricate replacement parts when needed
• Improve the design over time

The system is designed to be modular so that additional treatment technologies can be added without redesigning the entire unit.

Community Challenge

Many households rely on water sources that may contain:

• Suspended particles and sediment
• Disease-causing microorganisms
• Dissolved contaminants
• Unknown water quality conditions

Need

A water treatment solution that is:

• Affordable
• Easy to maintain
• Locally manufacturable
• Scalable
• Open source

Modular Treatment System

Water passes through a series of independent treatment modules.

Module 1: Sediment Filtration

Removes visible particles, dirt, and suspended solids.

Purpose:

• Improve water clarity
• Reduce load on downstream modules

Module 2: Electrocoagulation

Uses aluminium electrodes and low-voltage electricity.

Purpose:

• Aggregate fine contaminants
• Reduce heavy metal concentration
• Improve overall treatment efficiency

Module 3: Monitoring and Control

Uses sensors and a microcontroller.

Functions:

• Turbidity monitoring
• Flow measurement
• Water quality tracking
• System status monitoring

Long-Term Vision, Partnership and Future Plans

Module 4: Photocatalyst Chamber

At Fab Lab Winam, we are collaborating with Toyota and Bio Club Tokyo in Japan to explore the use of photocatalyst technology as part of our community-owned water purification system. After passing through filtration and treatment stages, water flows through a TiO₂ photocatalyst chamber designed to help reduce harmful microorganisms and improve water safety.

The photocatalyst stage is intended to help inactivate or reduce pathogens such as E. coli, cholera-causing bacteria (Vibrio cholerae), Salmonella, Shigella, algae, biofilm-forming microorganisms, and other biological contaminants. This collaboration combines local fabrication and community knowledge in Kenya with technical expertise and testing support from partners in Japan.

Business Model

DROP Academy

As part of the project, Fab Lab Winam will establish the DROP Academy, a community training and support program focused on safe water technologies. The academy will train community members in the design, fabrication, assembly, operation, and maintenance of the water purification system.

Through a DIY Safe Water Kit, communities will be able to build, repair, and upgrade their own systems using locally available materials and digital fabrication tools. The academy will also provide ongoing operation and maintenance (O&M) support, helping ensure long-term sustainability, local ownership, and wider adoption of safe water solutions.