We've worked in Sano and Thulo Kunwar for 2 years. Last June 2004 we contracted Parasi Red Cross to put in 50 filters, when we returned to check the filters we found over 50% broken or not installed properly. Discouraged but not dissuaded, we turned our pending disaster into a success. We now make our own filters and have trained a "filter checker" for each village. This person checks the filters twice a month and reports back to us if there are any problems. During our visits we check each filter and monitoring card as well as talk to the filter owner to encourage filter use. We've also begun our own filter training program, using a mentor/apprentice approach. A new team member is trained for three months. The apprentice learns the complete filter making process, workshop training including puppet shows, and learns how to identify arsenicosis symptoms among the villagers. We emphasize a caring, listening, and respectful attitude toward all villagers.

Problem 1 - Many pipes broke at the lower connection and buckets were cracked, interestingly all the ones our team installed are still working.
Problem 2 - If the filter wasn't working then it was used for food storage, however all but two saved the inner materials, one man sold his nails to the scrap iron man!
Problem 3 - A family installed a tap on one of the cement filters. This caused water to back up into the tray causing algae growth on the bricks and nails.
Problem 4 - If the buckets are moved after installation they have a tendency to crack. This man's cracked within two weeks. Although he walked 2 km to Parasi to tell Red Cross they didn't inform us nor did they fix the bucket.