Ecofiltro was invented in Guatemala by Fernando Mazariegos in 1981 and through the acumen of Philip Wilson has become a great social enterprise success story. The concept provides safe drinking water by using an innovative ceramic pot filter with a carbon core and antibacterial layer of colloidal silver.
Fernando Mazariegos
The product is inexpensive, easy to set up and use and enjoys wide acceptance because the components are universally understood. Today, Ecofiltro has become a social impact company. The distribution model uses retail chains, rural distributors and partnerships with microfinance organizations.
Ecofiltro has become financially accessible to all Guatemalans and beyond as it is currently present in 22 counties around the world. It is recognized by WHO as a cost-efficient water management system to control diarrheal infections. It now serves as a global benchmark for purified water quality.
An Ecofiltro production facility
The H4H-Ecofiltro Story
In 2014, Ecofiltro initiated the School program to bring purified water to public classrooms in Guatemala.
The H4H/Ecofiltro collaboration began in 2013 following a meeting with Philip Wilson. During the 2014 H4H Mission, with financial assistance from the West Vancouver Sunrise Rotary Club (WVSRC) 50 Ecofiltros were purchased and placed in the schools of the hamlet of Quisache.
Philip Wilson visits a home with an Ecofiltro
Since 2014 H4H has actively participated in a significant manner to collaboratively fund and monitor the Ecofiltro Guatemala School projects:
- 2017-2018 Guanagazapa/Escuintla School Districts: The Rotary Global Grant GG 1743329 Project valued at $45,000 USD with funding provided by a Rotary International Global Grant, H4H, Rotary Clubs in West Vancouver, Mr. John Trone of Denver, Rotary Club of Guatemala Las Americas and a 25% matching grant by Ecofiltro. Over 158 schools and 1500 schoolrooms and school kitchens received 1562 filters over the course of the project with over 39,000 schoolchildren benefitting from having safe water available at school. Many families purchased filters for the home at preferential rates. H4H team members and Rotarians from West Vancouver and Guatemala visited some of the impacted schools in 2019. Testimonials from various school directors estimated that post Ecofiltro deployment they estimated that the absenteeism related to diarrheal causes had dropped by about 85%.
- 2019-2024 Jalapa Department School District Project: Financial contributions for a total of $32725 USD were made by H4H, the Rotary Club of West Vancouver Sunrise, ,Rotary Club of Kelowna, Rotary Club of Guatemala City Las Americas, Mr. John Trone of Denver with a 25% matching grant from Ecofiltro. The project deployed 930 filters to the schoolrooms and school kitchen in Jalapa School District and benefited a total of over 21,000 children. The length of the project was long because of the impact of Covid.
- The 2025 Ecofiltro Save Water for Rural Schools in Guatemala is valued at $50,000 with funding provided by H4H, Mr. John Trone of Denver, Dr. Joe Delvicario and 50:50 matching grant by Ecofiltro. About 1400 filters will be deployed and an estimated 32,000 children will benefit from the program.
Ecofiltro distribution
Ecofiltro in the home of a proud Guatemalan woman
Caveats of note:
- The life span of the filters is conservatively estimated to be about 2 years. Therefore, the cost to provide safe Ecofiltro drinking water per child per year is about 81 cents.
- The Social Enterprise model that Ecofiltro pursues is such that once parents see the benefits that the introduction provides to their children, they often will purchase filters for the home at preferential rates. Ecofiltro provides replacement filters for the schools if a preset community sales target is met. This approach makes speaks to the sustainability of the Ecofiltro process.
- It must be stressed that once a household transfers to the use of Ecofiltros and abandons the use of wood to heat drinking water a tremendous environmental benefit accrues. Ecofiltro actually gains carbon offset income from third party quantification of this benefit to the environment.
To learn more about Ecofiltro, visit their website here.