ISZA first began working with YourAid on the Buddhist Library Cambodia Project (BLCP) to deliver clean drinking water to rural Cambodian schools with these filters in 2020.

Ultrafiltration (UF) water treatment systems are utilized due to the following benefits:

• Simple: UF filters require minimal maintenance or knowledge to operate - they have super small pores which prevent pathogens from passing into the output.

• Cost-effective: each system is less than $1,000 USD delivered and installed.

• Reliable: UF reliably removes bacteria, pathogen and viruses for many years.

• Scalable: UF can treat enough water for hundreds of people, something most other cost-effective water treatment technologies fail to accomplish.

• 300 treatment systems have been delivered and installed.

• 60 units are currently in fabrication.

• $9,500 is all that is needed for an additional 10 units in 10 different schools.

• The filters produce water that exceeds the World Health Organization (WHO) standard by 10 times!

  • The final water has less than 0.5 NTU turbidity (high turbidity = more particles)

  • The WHO standard being 5.0 NTU turbidity (10x more than minimum result).

• Filtration tank maintenance is simple - simply flush the system for 2 minutes, once per day in the morning for optimal results.

• A chlorine solution can also be used every 6 months for long-term mainetance.

• The cleaning solution and instructions/education are provided with each system.

• Filtration tanks are inspected and serviced on an ongoing basis by YourAid.

• Locals are also trained to perform the inspection to increase efficiency and system reliability

• The pump is most sensitive component of the system.

  • Malfunction is often due to a manufacture defect and often occurs soon after installation.

  • Each pump comes with a 1-year warranty.

  • Replacement after the warranty expires is $105 (USD).

  • No systems installed within the last 2 years have had pump malfunctions.

• The filter membrane is the second most sensitive component

  • Damage is typically due to improper maintenance or poor source water quality.

  • Rain or ground water use typically allows for > 5 year filter lifetimes.

  • If pond water is used, the filter membrane will need to be replaced more frequently (every few years). Prefilters can extend this longevity.

  • A replacement membrane filter costs $150 (USD).