Bring a little holiday cheer to families in Cambodia

There’s lots of water in Cambodia, but it isn’t safe to drink. So we’re funding solutions to make dirty water clean.

We’re helping families build BioSand Filters, which kill 99% of bacteria in dirty water. It is a simple, low-cost solution that cleans water quickly using a biological process.

How a BioSand Filter works

1. Dirty Water

Dirty water is collected from ponds, then poured into the top of the BioSand Filter.

2. Biological Layer

This is the first and most important layer: a biological film made of microorganisms eats 99% of harmful bacteria in the dirty water.

3. Fine Sand

A layer of specialized sand physically traps any remaining bacterial particles.

4. Coarse Sand

The coarse sand begins to separate the clean water from the particles of fine sand.

5. Gravel

The gravel layer serves as an elevation bed and keeps sand away from the pipe opening, while guiding clean water out.

6. Clean Water

Clean water is forced out of the spout every time more dirty water is poured through the top. Hurray for natural filtration.

With guidance and a little help, each family builds their own BioSand Filter.

When a family wants a BioSand Filter, we make sure they’re invested in bringing clean water to their home. To show their interest, they contribute a small amount of their own money for the building materials, attend a hygiene training class, and build their own filters under the supervision of local masons. This helps families understand their filters (and understand how to care for them). It helps our results last for long after our partners’ work is done.

Learn More

With the help of our donors and local partners, we’ve already brought clean water to 441,180 people in Cambodia.

288

Schools that now have BioSand Filters

1,343

Communities now have access to clean water

114,388

BioSand Filters have been funded to date

But our work isn’t done.

There are more than 5 million people in Cambodia who don’t have access to clean water. We need your help to continue making a difference.

14.8M

Population of Cambodia

34%

Lack access to clean water

75%

Lack access to sanitation

20.5%

Live below the poverty line

About our local partner, Clear Cambodia.

We’ve been working with Clear Cambodia since 2009. Their vision is to help rural Cambodians improve their health through better access to clean, safe water. The staff at Clear work closely with community leaders and local authorities to implement low-cost, sustainable clean water solutions in rural villages and schools. And since they ask families to contribute both time and money to every project, their work has long-lasting results.

Visit Clear Cambodia's Site
Our local partner, Clear Cambodia, helps communities build their own BioSand Filters so that families can turn dirty water into clean water. This is Dite. He's one of Clear Cambodia's community trainers. His family got a BioSand Filter 15 years ago, and he's been an advocate for the program ever since. Dite is on the road a lot. Every few days, the Clear team moves to a new village to construct BioSand Filters, and he's always there to help them. On construction day, families begin by mixing their own cement. When it's ready, they pour the cement into molds to create the outer castings for their BioSand Filters. During this process, the Clear team offers help and explains best practices to the families. Once the molds have been filled and smoothed out, they're left to dry overnight. For a village to qualify for the BSF program, everyone in the community must demonstrate their commitment by putting down their thumbprint as a signature. One part of that commitment is understanding hygiene and how to maintain their filters at home. Eventually, each family takes their filter home. Then the Clear staff makes a follow-up visit to install the layers of gravel, sand and rock. 24 hours later, the BSFs are up and running, and those families have access to clean water right at home. For women like Keun Leap, having a BioSand Filter means not having to drink from the pond in her rice field anymore. It means she can cook and take care of her family with clean water that's available at home anytime she needs it. With four sons and a sick husband, having a BioSand Filter has given Keun Leap's entire family hope for a very bright future.

Sponsor a water project in Cambodia, and your gift can transform an entire community!

Have questions about sponsoring a project? Please get in touch with our team.

646.688.2323