Access to safe drinking water for 2000 students in Uganda

Type: Happening now
Topic: Impact
Topic: Humanity
Publication date: 15 Oct 2025
Author: Graziëlla Guarguaglini - News, food, cook, family, cat and capibara lover.

The Hague-based water filter manufacturer Sensiblue has successfully installed its all new water filter at four schools across Uganda, now reaching nearly 2000 students and staff with safe drinking water for at least the next ten years.

Safe drinking water for every student

The project is an initiative of Sensiblue— with support from The Global Uplift Project (TGUP), local partner Nsawo Community Development Project (NDCP), and funding from a U.S. donor. It combines inline disinfection technology with tailored pre-filtration to handle local water conditions. Specific for this project the Sensiblue type S4 is installed, bacteria and viruses are eliminated without electricity, and depending on the system size, it can disinfect 55000 litres of water before it needs a 1 kg salt refill, which is less than 5 minutes of work and costs less than 30 cents.

Many schools in rural and peri-urban areas lack access to safe water. Sensiblue always works, does not need electricity, reduces illness, and keeps students in school, providing a safe learning environment. The goal: to ensure that every student and teacher has reliable access to clean water on campus.

Wirijn Tholen, CEO Sensiblue "This isn't just an Africa solution — it's a universal one. Whether it's schools in Uganda dealing with E. coli contamination, or European households wanting energy-independent water safety, Sensiblue works the same way: no electricity needed, minimal maintenance, maximum reliability."

Community-based impact

The pre-installation water test at the schools showed a high risk of the E.coli bacteria (49 CFU/100 ml E.coli , which gives an indication for the amount of living microorganisms in water). One student has been hospitalized for E. coli in the past. Now with the help of Sensiblue it's back to 0 CFU/100 ml after treatment — meaning that the water is safe for consumption.

The systems are being installed in rural areas, where water often comes from boreholes or rainwater tanks. Almost all resources — from plumbing and supplies to service materials — are from within the local community, apart from the Sensiblue itself.

Designed to last — with local support

The first system has been running since July, requiring a pre-filter change every 6 months and a salt refill when needed to keep the system working for at least 10 years. Three more schools have already received a follow up inspection, of which the tests came back without any microbiology found in the water. Based on the success of this pilot, Sensiblue and its partners are preparing new installations at schools in Kenya and Uganda. Bringing safe, sustainable drinking water to students who need it most. Each installation costs around €1000 per school – including the system, plumbing materials, shipping, labour, 10 years of supplies, which equals just €0.20 per child per year for 500 students.

About Sensiblue

Sensiblue is a purpose-driven water innovation company committed to making safe drinking water accessible—anytime, anywhere. Sensiblue provides low-maintenance water disinfection systems that deliver safe drinking water without electricity or chemicals. Designed for homes, businesses, schools, clinics, even in remote areas, the systems are durable, scalable, and easy to use. The company is based in The Hague, the Netherlands.