Defluorization of drinking water in Senegal

Highly fluoridated drilling water in the Kaolack region

On the occasion of the STM school on the theme “Water and Health” organized in Dakar (2007), Brother Luc-Marie of the order of the Discalced Carmelites sounds the alarm: the too fluoridated water of the boreholes in the region of Kaolack causes fluorosis, a disabling disease for the population. It is not only a matter of funding but also of improving the capacity of maintenance and monitoring of the installations.

Michel Farcy (then representative of the French company Pall, specialized in filtration technologies) and Prof. Courfia Diawara (scientific expert of the University Cheikh Anta Diop) decide to join him to answer this concrete need.

Potabilization thanks to membrane technologies

It follows between 2007 and 2012 five years of development of the membrane solution adapted to local conditions:

• nanofiltration experiments at the test laboratory (Pall Corporation)
• design and construction of a pilot for on-site testing
• installation in Ndiafatte of 2 drinking water kiosks: membrane nanofiltration stations powered by solar energy.

SIMEV helped with the acquisition of a spectrophotometer for the necessary dosages (fluorine and salt), and with the reception of the PhD student Saidou Diop at the IEM.

Connected to the raw water pipe of the borehole, each station supplies a reservoir serving 6 public fountains. The complex provides drinking water to the 2000 inhabitants of the 7 surrounding villages. Villagers exploit them and a team of Senegalese technicians ensures the maintenance.

5 new distribution kiosks a year

Supported by his meetings, Michel Farcy created the company ACLAIRA in which he works today for more solidarity and water security. Convinced that membrane technologies combined with an adapted local structure ensure the supply of quality drinking water, ACLAIRA continues to get involved with local populations. More than 20 drinking water kiosks are currently operating in Senegal. The program is developing on a private initiative at the rate of about 5 kiosks a year.