By Emmanuel Abi Couson
The residents of Ode, Itsekiri are anxiously waiting for the deployment of biosand water filters. The area for a long time has been battling with lack of access to potable water. So the news of distribution of biosand water filter was sweet music to the ears of the people as it is seen as a prayer answered.
The project is part of the Transition Town Warri, TTW, a community initiative focused on self-sufficiency and sustainability, launched March 28, 2025.
The initiative has taken its first step to deploy twenty five Biosand Water filters to Ode Itsekiri, the ancestral home of the Itsekiris.
As a first step towards the deployment of the Biosand Water filter, a training focused on Water , Sanitation and Hygiene, WASH was facilitated for the TTW members by Coastal and Marine Development Initiative, CMADI, with Curator and Environmentalist, Henry Erikowa as the lead facilitator.
The hands on training for the TTW members held at Falcorp Mangrove Park Ijala Ikenren focus on building the capacity of the members on the importance of safe and clean water, and how unsafe and unclean water can become safe, clean for drinking and other household chores.
The Biosand Water filter comprises customized 80 litres CWAST hydraid plastic bucket, Filtration media ( charcoal,sand and water). When set up it would serve an individual and his family for not less than ten years.
The water process will help address the issue of access to potable water, especially in the Itsekiri areas. It will also help cut down on plastic pollution as one does not need to buy either bottled water or package ( pure) water.
With the training completed TTW members are now well equipped to begin to drive positive change within their communities, with the first being at Ode Itsekiri.
Already the people of Ode Itsekiri are waiting for TTW to deploy the twenty five Biosand Water filter system.
They set up a committee which allocated them to the three quarters of Ode Itsekiri; IRIGBO quarters will get eight while OROKE quarters have been allocated nine and the third quarter which is Ogbe has eight.
The amiable chairman of Warri South Local Government Council,Hon Agbateyinro and his team are ensuring the success of the program.
