From April 24 to 26, 2024, AfWASA in collaboration with its German partners from the German Water Partnership organized a training session on "Fluoride Removal from Fresh Water at Community and Household Levels - Innovative Filter-Technology for clean, Safe and Affordable Drinking Water".

The training course, part of AfWASA's capacity-building mission, took place in person in Nakuru, Kenya, and was attended by some 50 participants from Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal and Tanzania.

Fluorine is a natural element in the earth's crust, found in water in varying concentrations depending on the geological characteristics of the subsoil. Consumed in small quantities, it prevents tooth decay. But above a threshold set by the World Health Organization (WHO) at 1.5 milligrams (mg) of fluoride per liter of water, it attacks teeth and settles on bones. People who regularly consume water too rich in fluoride are at risk of suffering from fluorosis.

The training was delivered by Dipl.-Ing. Johannes Münz, Managing Director of Harbauer Kenya and Ms Margaret Maïna, Water Quality Specialist, Managing Director of Limuru Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC), Kenya. Through presentations, case studies and group work, the trainers taught participants simple techniques and presented innovative technologies for removing excess fluoride from drinking water.

At the end of the session, participants expressed their satisfaction with the way the sessions had been run, and with the quality of the information they had received. They decided to set up a sub-group within the AfWASA "Water Quality" Specialist Group to continue exchanges and share experiences.