Pakistan Water Partnership demonstrated and trained communities in Cholistan on building and using bio sand water filters. They installed 14 filters in remote areas and taught residents how to construct their own at home. Bio sand filters remove up to 97% of bacteria and 100% of parasites from water through biological and physical processes in a sand column. They were shown to improve water quality and reduce instances of diarrhea. The demonstration aimed to provide communities with safe drinking water through appropriate technology.

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Demonstration
of
Bio Sand Water Filter in Cholistan
(02 Dec-05 Dec, 2014)
Team Members
Mr. Amraiz Mansoor (Program Assistant WACREP)
Mr. Malik Farooq Ahmed (Chairman Bahawalpur Area Water Partnership)
Mr. Sajjad Rashid (Field Officer CDC)

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Table of Contents
Purpose ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
Introduction of Area ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
Efforts of PWP --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6
Bio Sand Water Filter ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6
Demonstration of Bio Sand Water Filter ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7
Technical Design of Bio Sand Water Filter ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 8
Photo Gallery ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9

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Purpose
Purpose of this report is to document the efforts made by PWP to reduce the impact of degraded &
contaminated water on health of downtrodden communities dwelling in Cholistan Desert by
demonstration of Bio Sand Water Filters and training of community to prepare their own Bio Sand
Water Filters at home.
Introduction of Area
The Cholistan Desert also locally known as Rohi, sprawls thirty kilometres from Bahawalpur, Punjab,
Pakistan and covers an area of 26,300 square kilometres (10,200 sq mi). It adjoins the Thar Desert,
extending over to Sindh and into India.
The word Cholistan is derived from the Turkic word chol, which means "desert". Cholistan thus
means Land of the Desert. The people of Cholistan lead a semi-nomadic life, moving from one place
to another in search of water and fodder for their animals. The dry bed of the Hakra River runs
through the area, along which many settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization have been found.
The desert also has an annual Jeep rally, known as Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally. It is the biggest motor
sports event in Pakistan.
Fig: 01 Map indicating Cholistan Desert
The language of Cholistan also reflects a number of features for its historical and geographical
background. Cholistan is a pretty diffused society as many people in search of rain travel larger

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distances and many travel to central parts of Punjab for work when there is shortage of water. So
due to the diffused nature of these people language in Cholistan is a mixture of many Dialects of the
Punjab. Many communities do speak their peculiar local dialects but general Punjabi language is
easily understood and can be spoken owing to the migration trends in search for work in these
regions.
In a harsh and barren land where rainfall is very sparse and unreliable, Cholistanis rely mainly on
their livestock of sheep, goats, and camel. However in cold nights of winter they huddle indoor and
engage themselves in various arts and crafts such as textiles, weaving, leatherwork, and pottery.
As mentioned above, the Indus Valley has always been occupied by the wandering nomadic tribes,
who are fond of isolated areas; as such areas allow them to lead life free of foreign intrusion,
enabling them to establish their own individual and unique cultures. Cholistan till the era of Mughal
rule had also been isolated from outside influence. During the rule of Mughal Emperor Akbar, it
became a proper productive unit. The entire area was ruled by a host of kings who securely guarded
their frontiers. The rulers were the great patrons of art, and the various crafts underwent a
simultaneous and parallel development, influencing each other. Mesons, stone carvers, artisans,
artists, and designers started rebuilding the old cities and new sites, and with that flourished new
courts, paintings, weaving, and pottery. The fields of architecture, sculpture, terra cotta, and pottery
developed greatly in this phase.
The backbone of Cholistan economy is cattle breeding. It has the major importance for satisfying the
area's major needs for cottage industry as well as milk meat and fat. Because of the nomadic way of
life the main wealth of the people are their cattle that are bred for sale, milked or shorn for their
wool. Moreover, isolated as they were, they had to depend upon themselves for all their needs like
food, clothing, and all the items of daily use. So all their crafts initially stemmed from necessity but
later on they started exporting their goods to the other places as well. The estimated number of
livestock in the desert areas is 1.6 million.
Cholistan produces very superior type of carpet wool as compared to that produced in other parts of
Pakistan. From this wool they knit beautiful carpets, rugs and other woolen items. This includes
blankets, which is also a local necessity for the desert is not just a land of dust and heat, but winter
nights here are very cold, usually below freezing points. Khes and pattu are also manufactured with
wool or cotton. Khes is a form of blanket with a field of black white and pattu has a white ground
base. Cholistanis now sell the wool for it brings maximum profit.
It may be mentioned that cotton textiles have always been a hallmark of craft of Indus valley
civilization. Various kinds of khaddar-cloth are made for local consumption, and fine khaddar
bedclothes and coarse lungies are woven here. A beautiful cloth called Sufi is also woven of silk and
cotton, or with cotton wrap and silk wool. Gargas are made with numerous patterns and color,
having complicated embroidery, mirror, and patchwork. Ajrak is another specialty of Cholistan. It is a
special and delicate printing technique on both sides of the cloth in indigo blue and red patterns
covering the base cloth. Cotton turbans and shawls are also made here. Chunri is another form of
dopattas, having innumerable colours and patterns like dots, squares, and circles on it.
Camels are highly valued by the desert dwellers. Camels are not only useful for transportation and
loading purposes, but its skin and wool are also quite worthwhile. Camel wool is spun and woven

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into beautiful woolen blankets known as falsies and into stylish and durable rugs. The camel's
leather is also utilized in making kuppies, goblets, and expensive lampshades.
Leatherwork is another important local cottage industry due to the large number of livestock here.
Other than the products mentioned above, Khusa (shoes) is a specialty of this area. Cholistani khusas
are very famous for the quality of workmanship, variety, and richness of designs especially when
stitched and embroidered with golden or brightly colored threads.
The Cholistanis are fond of jewellery, especially gold jewellery. The chief ornaments made and worn
by them are Nath (nose gay), Katmala (necklace) Kangan (bracelet), and Pazeb (anklets). Gold and
silver bangles are also a product of Cholistan. The locals similarly work in enamel, producing enamel
buttons, earrings, bangles, and rings.
The Indus Civilization was the earliest center of ceramics, and thus the pottery of Cholistan has a
long history. Local soil is very fine, thus most suitable for making pottery. The fineness of the earth
can be observed on the Kacha houses which are actually plastered with mud but look like white
cemented. The chief Cholistani ceramic articles are their surahies, piyalas, and glasses, remarkable
for their lightness and fine finishing.
In the early times only the art of pottery and terracotta developed, but from the seventh century
onwards, a large number of temples and images were also built on account of the intensified
religious passions and the accumulation of wealth in cities. The building activity reached to such an
extent that some cities actually became city temples. In fact the area particularly came to be known
for its forts, villas, palaces, havelis, gateways, fortifications, and city walls.

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Efforts of Pakistan Water Partnership
To promote the concept and principles of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the
country in order to meet the growing scarcity of water resources, increasing deterioration in water
quality and the looming threat to environmental sustainability and also create awareness at the
grassroots level about the need and potential of adopting IWRM techniques and solutions to solve
locally water and environment related problems on a community basis.
PWP with mission to provide the communities dwelling in Pakistan to provide with safe & secure
drinking water has initiated to promote the concept of Bio Sand Water Filter by demonstration &
training of community.
Bio Sand Water Filter
A bio sand water filter (BSWF) is a point-of-use water treatment system adapted from traditional
slow sand filters. Bio sand water filters remove pathogens and suspended solids from water using
biological and physical processes that take place in a sand column covered with a biofilm. BSWFs
have been shown to remove heavy metals, turbidity, bacteria, viruses and protozoa. BSFs also
reduce discoloration, odour and unpleasant taste. Studies have shown a correlation between use of
BSWFs and a decrease in occurrence of diarrhea. Because of their effectiveness, ease of use, and
lack of recurring costs, bio sand water filters are often considered appropriate technology in
developing countries. It is estimated that over 200,000 BSWFs are in use worldwide.
Bio sand water filters are typically constructed from concrete or plastic. At the top of the filter, a
tightly fitted lid prevents contamination and unwanted pests from entering the filter. Below this, the
diffuser plate prevents disturbance of the biofilm when water is poured into the filter. Water then
travels through the sand column, which removed pathogens and suspended solids. Below the sand
column, a layer of gravel prevents sand from entering the drainage layer and clogging the outlet
tube. Below the separating layer is the drainage layer consisting of coarser gravel that prevents
clogging near the base of the outlet tube.
Bio sand water filter is capable to remove 97% of bacteria 100 % parasites, turbidity, iron,
manganese, bad odour & taste.

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Demonstration of Bio Sand Water Filter
Pakistan Water Partnership has demonstrated 14 Bio Sand Water Filters in interior Cholistan with
support of Bahawalpur Area Water Partnership & trained community to prepare Bio Sand Water
Filter at their home.
Fig: 03 Demonstration of Bio sand water filters at Lal Suhara

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Technical Design of Bio Sand Water Filter

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Photo Gallery
Fig: 04 Demonstration of Bio Sand Water Filter at Chanan Pir
Fig: 05 Demonstration of Bio Sand Water Filter at Laal Suhara

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Fig: 06 Demonstration of Bio Sand Water Filter at Katchi Basti UC 14
Fig: 07 Demonstration of Bio Sand Water Filter at Katchi Basti

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Fig: 08 Demonstration of Bio Sand Water Filter at Basti Sadaat
Fig: 09 Demonstration of Bio Sand Water Filter at Katchi Basti

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Fig: 10 Demonstration of Bio Sand Water Filter at Basti Gareeb Abad
Fig: 11 Demonstration of Bio Sand Water Filter at Basti Mahar Rafique

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Fig: 12 Demonstration of Bio Sand Water Filter at Basti Mahar Rafique
Fig:13 Bio Sand Water Filters

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Fig: 14 Demonstration of Bio Sand Water Filter at Toba Qasai
Fig: 15 Demonstration of Bio Sand Water Filter at Basti Sinjarani