To help provide potable water to some of these people the Solvatten – ‘sun water’ in Swedish – was developed, a Swedish innovation that uses solar energy to purify contaminated water in just a few hours.
The unit, which is easy to use and carry, holds 11 litres of water and is manufactured in Sweden from recyclable plastics. After a few hours in the sun the water is free from the pathogens that cause diseases such as dysentery, salmonella and cholera. No chemicals, batteries or spare parts are required.
The Soroptimist Unions of Sweden and Kenya worked closely together to get this ingenious device into the field where it can make a difference. Swedish SI Clubs raised money to purchase the Solvatten units. The manufacturer generously arranged for transport to Nairobi and for warehousing. From there, the SI Union of Kenya took over the responsibility and the costs for local transportation. Local SI Clubs identified women beneficiaries in rural areas and trained them in the use of the equipment.