ADRA Uses CBT EC+TC MPN Kit to Compare and Evaluate Two Types of Household Water Filters in Venezuela
Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), a faith-based global humanitarian organization, provides relief and development assistance to individuals in more than 120 countries regardless of their ethnicity, political affiliation, gender, or religious association. By partnering with local communities, organizations, and governments, they deliver culturally relevant programs and build local capability for sustainable change. https://adra.org/
Problem
In 2023 and 2024, ADRA Venezuela distributed 2400 Sawyer PointOne filters and 900 Ecofiltro ceramic filters to Venezuelan households. ADRA then launched an investigation to compare the effectiveness, durability, and user acceptance of these water filtration systems in households. In addition, the study sought to determine whether these filters could provide sustainable access to safe drinking water by assessing water quality outcomes, user experiences, maintenance practices, and long-term performance using surveys, water quality testing, focus groups, and laboratory analysis. Ultimately, the project hoped to identify which filtration option was more reliable and appropriate for improving household water safety in humanitarian settings.
A key challenge for water quality testing was obtaining valid and comparable microbiological data across diverse household water sources. This was especially true in rural and remote areas without laboratory access.
Solution
ADRA selected the Aquagenx CBT EC+TC MPN Kit that quantifies the concentration of E. coli and Total Coliform bacteria in 100mL water samples. The investigation was implemented through a collaboration between ADRA Venezuela, ADRA International, Avondale University, and Tufts University. ADRA Venezuela led filter distribution, household visits, water quality testing, and community engagement. Researchers from Avondale University provided study leadership and analysis, and Tufts University contributed technical expertise and conducted the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis of filter samples.
CBT EC+TC MPN Kits were used to test household water before and after filtration. Test results were photographed, recorded in mWater, shared with participating households as a behavior-change and training tool, and used to compare the performance of Sawyer PointOne and Ecofiltro filters over time.
Test Results
Water quality testing with the CBT EC+TC MPN Kit demonstrated that both filtration systems improved drinking water quality, but Ecofiltros maintained higher microbiological performance over time. The results highlighted the need for ongoing water quality monitoring, strong user training, and regularly sharing test results with households to encourage safe water practices and proper filter maintenance.
A key challenge for water quality testing was obtaining valid and comparable microbiological data across diverse household water sources. Some CBT EC+TC samples had to be excluded because influent water contained no detectable E. coli, while the absence of standardized turbidity testing limited the ability to relate Aquagenx CBT Kit results to source water quality and seasonal variations.
Conclusion
Tinotenda Muvuti, Senior WASH Advisor at ADRA believes CBT EC+TC MPN Kits are affordable, portable, and practical for field use, enabling microbiological water quality testing in remote communities without laboratory infrastructure. He says, “Aquagenx test kits are practical, easy to use in the field, and provide meaningful data for monitoring water quality and filter effectiveness. They also play a valuable role in community education by helping households visualize contamination risks and adopt safer water management practices.”
