Abstract

The people of Botswana's Kalahari Desert, known collectively as Remote Area Dwellers (RADs), have almost no drinking water. Available surface water is often brackish, too salty for human consumption. Since 1977, the Solar Energy Section of the Rural Industries Innovation Centre (RIIC) has been conducting research on simple solar desalination. To date, seven prototype stills have been developed in the RIIC laboratory. The purpose of this project is to introduce desalinators to RAD communities, develop an appropriate training program for the operation and maintenance of these stills, and assess their technical performance, social acceptability, user preference and utilization patterns.

Post-Project Summary

This project tested 130 desalination units made up of two types of solar stills, two woodburning stills, and one reserve osmosis unit in the remote settlements of the Kgalagadi District of Botswana. The solar still technology was well accepted with the fibre glass Mexican still being very efficient and economical. Extensive training was given to end users, and to those in local and central government whose support was needed. Efforts focused on teaching remote area dwellers (through workshops, theatre and discussion) how to look after the stills and to share the water produced. Detailed surveys were carried out to assess the impact of, and attitudes toward the technology. Stills were readily accepted by the users, and it was concluded that solar desalination was an appropriate technology for Botswana. The money saved by not trucking water to remote areas justified the investment; and in Zutshwa the salt byproduct was sold for cattle feed providing capital for other community developments. Results were disseminated through fact sheets; a radio program; lectures; the August 1987 end-of-project seminar; the September 1987 "International Solar Energy Society Conference" in Hamburg West Germany; and a "Small-Scale Desalination Seminar".

Recipient Institution(s)