Clean Drinking Water for Schools in Uganda

A group of smiling children in school uniforms joyfully posing for the camera in a lively schoolyard.

Project type: Water (Purification & Saving)

Project location: Uganda

Project status: In operation, credits available

Annual emission reduction of the whole project: 572,881 t

The primary objective of the programme is to disseminate water puriﬁcation systems to institutions such as schools and health centers. Carbon ﬁnance is used to give households access to the clean water technologies thereby improving the livelihoods and health conditions of thousands of people and at the same time reducing CO2 emissions by reducing the consumption of non-renewable ﬁrewood and charcoal.

St Paul's Primary School has 1145 pupils and has had the water system installed since 2016. Photo: Esther Ruth Mbabazi/myclimate/Fairpicture

Pupil Nalubega Jane with a drinking cup in front of the taps at St Paul's Primary School in Kyebando. Photo: Esther Ruth Mbabazi/myclimate/Fairpicture

Student Sekandi Mudathir collects drinking water from the water tank installed at Kasengejje Secondary School in Wakiso. Photo: Esther Ruth Mbabazi/myclimate/Fairpicture

Mazzi Jackline, a student leader at the school says: “The water is clean and safe and so students don’t get sick from typhoid as before.” Foto Credits: Esther Ruth Mbabazi/myclimate/Fairpicture

Students Barbrah and Noeline carry their drinking water bottles to class. Foto Credits: Esther Ruth Mbabazi/myclimate/Fairpicture

Children playing at St. Paul’s Primary School, Kyebando. Foto Credits: Esther Ruth Mbabazi/myclimate/Fairpicture

Children learning at St. Paul’s Primary School. The purified water is used for drinking only. Foto Credits: Esther Ruth Mbabazi/myclimate/Fairpicture

Atuhire Barbrah collecting water at Masulita Secondary School in Wakiso, Uganda. Foto Credits: Esther Ruth Mbabazi/myclimate/Fairpicture

Lack of access to safe drinking water and inadequate sanitation and hygiene are responsible for the majority of the 2.2 million annual deaths caused by diarrhoeal disease. Children under five are particularly affected. According to the WHO report, 2.1 billion people do not use improved sources of drinking water. Over one third of those live in sub-Saharan Africa.

In Uganda, 40 per cent of people boil water for purification and many more do not treat water at all. In addition, wood harvest for domestic cooking and boiling water is one of the major causes of deforestation. The burning of wood not only damages the environment, but can also negatively impact human health.

Ever since we had the water filter tank, our children do not have waterborne diseases anymore and typhoid went. It is saving us money because we do not have to boil water.

Francis Epyaka Otai, Mirembe Junior School

The programme addresses the above issues while enabling access to water purification technologies at institutional level such as schools and health centers.

Water filter models

Examples of water treatment devices currently used include electric ultraviolet (UV) purification units and ultra filtration systems. Institutional water treatment systems can treat depending on type between 120 to 650 litres per hour that can provide safe water for 1,000 students and more.

The filter is fed by the national water supply. This water is not safe and was boiled before the school invested in the water purification system.

Sister Judette, St. Benedict Grade School, Jinja

The systems for schools consist of a UV filter or ultra filtration system and a water tank with a capacity of 450 to 1,000 litres. Electricity is needed for operation, the water comes from the water pipe. The UV water filter cleans the water in three stages. In a first step, the coarsest impurities in the water are filtered out. In a second step, an activated carbon filter is used, which absorbs the smallest particles and volatile organic compounds and ensures that the water is odourless and tasteless. In the final purification stage, the water is irradiated with UV light. This kills microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. The individual filters are replaced every 6 months to ensure smooth operation and water quality. The filter systems have an average service life of ten years.

We constantly have good drinking water. When we used to boil it it was never enough.

Susan Mubiru, Director, Namutebi Nkata Primary School

Some schools have a waste and littering problem with the plastic bottles students bring to school. Thus the systems also reduce plastic waste at schools.

We no longer have as much plastic pollution from the single use water bottles as the students use their cups.

Mazzi Jackline, a student leader at Masulita Secondary School

Project partner and monitoring of the project

myclimate works together with Impact Water located in Kampala, Uganda. myclimate invests the proceeds from climate protection contributions over Impact Water in the expansion of the project, for example via product subsidies, in raising the awareness of local partners and in the promotion and development of distribution channels. The project is registered with the high quality Gold Standard. Once per year, the project is being monitored and then being verified and audited by an independent third party organisation. For more information, see "Documentation”.

This project contributes to 7 SDGs*

*as at the end of 2023. myclimate only finances a share of this project. The following figures relate to the impact of the entire project. Find out how myclimate reports these SDGs in our FAQ.