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1 at a Time demonstrates household water filters, cites global need and local outreach
Summary
Nonprofit 1 at a Time demonstrated a Sawyer household filter and described international work providing long‑term access to clean drinking water to tens of thousands of families.
Debbie Collette and Sean Kaffoff represented 1 at a Time and described the nonprofit’s program to provide household filters that remove bacteria from drinking water.
Debbie Collette said the group’s model builds local relationships, trains community leaders and follows up to ensure filters are used and maintained. Sean Kaffoff demonstrated a Sawyer hollow‑fiber filter and explained that the membrane is rated to 0.1 microns, which removes bacteria though not dissolved chemicals. He said the filter model allows families to produce potable water from visibly dirty sources without boiling.
Kaffoff and Collette gave global context: Collette said roughly 1.7 billion people lack access to clean drinking water in their homes and that contaminated water is a leading cause of death for children under 5 globally. Kaffoff said a program cost equivalent to about $100 can provide a family with access to clean drinking water for roughly 10 years and that the organization has helped more than 60,000 families across 10 countries.
The presenters described maintenance (back‑flushing the membrane with a syringe) and the organization’s practice of distributing filters through local leaders, providing training and following up to ensure use and repair. They said the group tracks long-term usage in partner communities.
Why it matters: access to household filtration reduces waterborne disease and frees time spent collecting and boiling water, affecting health, schooling and economic opportunity in partner communities.
