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Rose sometimes brings her pots to work, carried on her head. It's a one hour walk over foot paths. Most if not all of her neighbors can produce these, so Rose's pots are not readily salable.
The potters, predominantly women, form their pots by hand. Once trained in quick forming techniques of duplicates using models and molds that they make, they can do production of candle water filters and insulating rocket stoves.
About production of ceramic candle water filters
These potters are bringing bricks shown here, to their work site, for fabrication of a kiln. Kilns are a lot more energy efficient than their traditional pit firing is.
Shown as follows are monolithic, candle water filters in the forming process, in both Burundi and Rwanda, 2021 & 2022.
Rose has just formed this candle water filter, composed of 50/50, powders of clay and charcoal. The charcoal burns out in firing, making the filter porous. Because of porosity due to the burn-out, bacteria contaminated water flows through the filter. Once treated with silver, candle filters can reduce microbes to the highest standard.
Forming candle waters filter can be accomplished by using a simple turning device, fabricated by a local carpenter. Silver treatment should be done by someone who is knowledgeable in chemistry and good at record keeping.
Candle water filters are under recent production in Nepal by the 10,000s, by Madhyapur Clay Crafts. These filters are 'damp pressed,' by hydraulic press, having a water content of around 10%, in contrast to the filters shown above, of some 20% water content.
For the Safa Filter of Nepal (2003 to 2007) and Maji Afya Filter of Kenya (2007 to 2012), 5,000 water filters of each were placed in their informal settlements
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