World Vision Switzerland Vasa Water Supply Case Study | KATADYN Rapidyn Supports 11 Villages

Original Case Information

The Challenge

Residents in Wasa and Lumuli previously drew water primarily from rivers, streams, and dams. These sources are susceptible to contamination from upstream activities, agricultural chemicals, and pathogenic microorganisms, with diarrhea and gastrointestinal diseases consequently impacting children's school attendance and family life.

The water supply issue wasn't limited to households. 11 primary schools, 2 secondary schools, and 8 health facilities also needed reliable drinking water treatment methods. The project therefore had to address equipment deployment, usage education, filter cleaning, and ongoing management, rather than just a one-off donation.

Project Details

World Vision Switzerland planned to distribute Rapidyn systems to 1,500 households and establish public usage configurations for schools and health facilities. Katadyn Products Inc. donated 600 of these systems; local partner Merry Water was responsible for food-grade water storage containers, assembly support, and training.

The project first trained 15 hygiene educators and one district health officer. These trained personnel then disseminated proper water collection, filtration, cleaning, and hygiene concepts to the villages. Each school received 10 filter systems, and school health clubs continuously promoted safe drinking water and hand hygiene.

The installation of Rapidyn was deliberately kept simple. Users only need a food-grade storage container with an inner diameter of at least 27 cm. Once the ceramic filter element is secured, filtration can be achieved by gravity, without the need for electricity or manual pumping.

About the Product

Rapidyn uses a 0.2-micron ceramic filter element, which can reduce bacteria, protozoa, sediment, and suspended particles in water. The original case data positions it as a household water filtration solution that meets the World Health Organization's "Highly Protective" requirements for bacteria and protozoa.

The labeled flow rate for a single system is approximately 4 liters per hour; the filter element's lifespan can reach up to 20,000 liters, though the actual lifespan depends on raw water quality, cleaning frequency, and operational methods. When the ceramic surface is clogged, it can be brushed clean to restore flow, making it suitable for areas requiring long-term management where consumable resupply is difficult.

Learn more about KATADYN Rapidyn Emergency Water Filter

Project Outcome

This project integrated equipment, storage containers, training, and local management into a single process. Households can treat their drinking water at home, and schools and medical facilities can continuously supply filtered water according to daily needs, reducing the risk of residents directly consuming untreated surface water.

World Vision's project logic isn't simply to leave filters on-site and conclude, but to ensure that local health workers, teachers, and families understand how the equipment operates. When cleaning and maintenance capabilities remain within the community, the filtration system truly becomes a sustainable basic tool.

KATADYN Taiwan's Understanding of the Case

For post-disaster temporary water supply, remote locations, community disaster preparedness, and group emergency backup in Taiwan, the key applications of Rapidyn likewise involve first confirming water source risks, number of users, daily demand, container configuration, and maintenance personnel, then establishing a long-term operational water supply process.

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