• It is a new project to install chlorine dispensers in the rural regions of Burundi.

• Currently, more than 30 chlorine dispensers have been set up near water sources and schools.

Water is very significant to the world’s economy. It plays a crucial role in every country, as it is widely used in industrial processes, cooking, drinking, and washing. Because of the essence of safe and clean drinking water for humans, there is an ongoing project to install chlorine dispensers in parts of Burundi to help increase access to safe drinking water.

A non-governmental organization called Water for Development started the project, generating chlorine on-site at a lab in the Cibitoke province of western Burundi to help purify the water. According to Olivier Ndayihimbaze, the founder of Water for Development, a chlorine dispenser is placed adjacent to a water point to assist locals in obtaining the chlorine before drawing water.

“When someone comes to fetch water, they first dispense a few drops of measured chlorine into the jerrycans and then draw the water. Within 30 minutes, the water is treated and protected against any further external recontamination,” Ndayihimbaze said in a video recording shared by the organization Sunday.

According to him, it has been difficult for locals to get access to clean drinking water. More than 30 chlorine dispensers have currently been set up close to water sources and schools, he said, delivering clean water to more than 50,000 people. The manufacturing of chlorine takes around two hours before it is transferred to the various water stations according to Prosper Cishahayo the Head of Chlorine Production and a chemist.

Saltwater is electrolyzed and undergoes a chemical transformation as part of the production process. Before adding salt and water to the machine that makes chlorine, they are mixed to create a homogeneous solution. Mother of four Nadine Umutoni told Anadolu that the project’s approach has prevented their children from contracting waterborne illnesses.

In 2019, UNICEF reported that access to clean, safe drinking water is a significant issue, particularly for households in rural regions, in countries like Burundi, where over half of the population lives.

Children under the age of five are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition and waterborne infections. The lack of access to clean drinking water is one of the main causes of health issues in this age group.