기관소개

Raw water in East Africa rift valley area showes high fluoride concentration up to 30mg/L. This concentration is higher than WHO water quality standard which is 1.5mg/L. Skeletal fluorosis, teeth fluorosis and decline in intelligence can be caused by dringking high fluoride concentrated water for long term. Not only cosmetic problems, but also harmful to health especially for children. It is significant issue in east Africa to provide safety water to local people.

Innovative technology center for sustainable development (iTCSD) in Ethiopia was established Adama university of science and technology (AUST) located in Adama City, Ethiopia in 2017, and is currently in the process of developing and commercializing appropriate technology in the water/agricultural field until 2020. The water field is the development and local application of high adsorption bone char for fluoride removal of groundwater. The agricultural field is the development of oyster mushroom cultivation technology and local distribution. For residents who use groundwater as drinking water, a fluoride removal drinking water facility was built to supply 10㎥/d to Shenen Silasie village. Since fluoride is detected in groundwater above the WHO fluoride drinking water quality standard (1.5 mg/L), Ethiopia produces bone char for fluoride removal locally and applies it to drinking water systems. However, bone char (about 1 mg-F/g) with low adsorption efficiency has a cost problem due to a short replacement cycle. To solve this challenge, ITCSD developed bone char (about 4 mg-F/g) with high adsorption efficiency and plans to supply it locally. Also locally produced HAP (hydroxyl apatite) is expensive, but its adsorption efficiency is high, so it is planned to be mixed with high adsorption bone char developed by iTCSD and operated in drinking water facilities. iTCSD is supporting high value-added agricultural projects by establishing oyster mushroom cultivation facilities. The agricultural cultivation facility is operated with water supplied by the drinking water facility built in Shenen selassie. Mushroom cultivation can increase farmers' profits. A village farming association that can manage oyster mushroom cultivation, sale, and promotion is formed and promoted. ITCSD provides support with appropriate technology to improve the quality of life of residents.