Cookie tracking notice
Are we allowed to crumble with cookies and anonymous tracking?

We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential for the operation of the site (so called session cookies), while others help us to improve this site and the user experience (tracking cookies). We use the application Matomo and the external service etracker to analyze your behavior on our website anonymously. Because we value your privacy, we are here with asking your permission to use the following technologies. You can change your settings any time via this link or the menu item in footer menu. For more information visit our Data Policy

Handy Wash Tap

2012 - 2017 • Oxfam GB

Purpose

Handwashing Device for the Promotion of Hand Hygiene

Activities

The first prototype was field tested with refugee populations in Liberia and Kenya to assess its suitability at both household and communal levels. Following this study, the device was modified and field trialled a second time in South Sudan. The South Sudan study looked specifically at the device’s durability at the communal level where it was most likely to be exposed to a significant number of users; notably in schools, next to communal latrines, and food stalls in the marketplace. Following this study, the device was modified and trialled in DRC based on overall feedback and it is now ready for use in emergency contexts.

Images

Image: Handy wash tap © Foyeke Tolani - Oxfam

Countries of activity

Location of main activity

Objectives

The Handy Wash Tap was designed in response for the need for a new device to address hand washing in humanitarian contexts where water is often scarce and taps for hand washing are often the cause of a considerable use of a limited resource. Oxfam in partnership with John Radford and Nag Magic set about to design a tap that would be lightweight, easy to transport, robust, compact, inexpensive and appropriate across genders, ages and abilities. Moreover, it needed to conserve water and prevents re-contamination of the user’s hands.

Further information

It has taken five years and nine prototypes to reach the final product. The Handy Wash device has been found to be culturally appropriate in 4 countries (Liberia, Kenya, South Sudan and DRC), and well received and accepted by the majority of beneficiaries despite differing demographics such as age, ability, gender, income, or education levels. The cost of one device is approximately 3.75 GBP in 2017.
The device is robust and can withstand stress from multiple users in communal areas. It has a push up control made of brass which is difficult to break. It has been tested in schools, at communal latrines in large camps, health centres and market places. In DRC, 95% of devices trialled are still in use after 12 months.
The Handy Wash device is compact and consists of a push up brass rod, a filter at the adapter connecting end, plus 2 washers, elbow and fixing nut, which are packaged together and can easily fit in the palm of one’s hand. One hundred devices can easily fit into a small box or carry-on sized suitcase.

The device is efficient in terms of conserving water and ideal for areas of water scarcity. When compressed, the volume of water emitted by the device is sufficient for handwashing but not for washing clothing or bathing. The average amount of water required for proper handwashing is 80ml. Using this estimation, the average family of 5 washing hands 4 times per day will require a total volume of 1.6l daily, so a 20L will be sufficient for the handwashing needs of a family plus visitors for one week.

The Handy Wash device can be fastened to any type of locally available container. The device functions equally well with 18-20L plastic buckets as well as larger capacity solid plastic barrels (40 – 100L).

The Handy Wash device can be used effectively to facilitate hand washing in emergency contexts. It can be attached to a range of different water containers and is therefore versatile enough for use in different situations. The use of the device will need to be promoted to users and, when used as part of a communal facility, arrangements will need to be made to refill the water container to which it is connected and ensure that the filter in the device is flushed through occasionally.

Contact information

Foyeke Tolani
Login to see the e-mail-adress of the contact person.

Filter tags

Camps (emergency or longer term) Global Health and hygiene International NGO Other funding source or unspecified Product design and engineering Schools Sub-Saharan Africa

Links

Oxfam GB
Oxfam
United Kingdom


Oxfam is a global movement of people working with others to overcome poverty and suffering. Oxfam is a vibrant global movement of passionate, dedicated people fighting poverty together. Doing amazing work, together. People power drives everything we do. From saving lives and developing projects that put poor people in charge of their lives and livelihoods, to campaigning for change that lasts.

view profile page


Uploaded by:
Esther Shaylor (eshaylor)

Share this page on    


Follow us on    

SuSanA Partners  currently 400 partners

Show all partners »

Networks Circle

 

Latest SuSanA Blog Articles

SuSanA Blog »

SuSanA newsletter

Stay informed about the activities of SuSanA and its partners. The SuSanA newsletter is sent out around four times per year. It contains information about news, events, new partners, projects, discussions and publications of the SuSanA network.

Subscribe to newsletter »

 


close  

 

Resources and publications

Our library has more than 3,000 publications, factsheets, presentations, drawings etc. from many different organisations. It continues to grow thanks to the contributions from our partners.

Add item to library »

The three links below take you to special groups of items in the library for more convenient access:

Projects

The project database contains nearly 400 sanitation projects of many different organizations dealing with research, implementation, advocacy, capacity development etc. Advanced filtering functions and a global map are also available. Information on how and why this database was created is here.

People working for SuSanA partners can add their own projects through their partner profile page. You might need your SuSanA login upgraded for this purpose. Please contact us if you would like to add a project.


Trainings, conference and events materials

Missed important conferences or courses? Catch up by using their materials for self study. These materials have been kindly provided by SuSanA partners.

Shit flow diagrams, excreta flow diagrams (310 SFDs worldwide)

Shit flow diagrams (SFDs) help to visualize excreta management in urban settings. Access SFDs and more through the SFD Portal.

Emersan eCompendium

Humanitarian Sanitation Hub

Sanitation Workers Knowledge and Learning Hub

 


close  

 

Discussion forum

Share knowledge, exchange experiences, discuss challenges, make announcements, ask questions and more. Hint: Your discussion forum login is the same as your SuSanA login. More about the forum's philosophy »


Integrated content

We are hosting content from some other communities of practice and information-sharing portals. This section also provides a link to SuSanA's Sanitation Wikipedia initiative.

Suggest content to add »

SuSanA partners

Not yet a SuSanA partner? Show your organisation's support to SuSanA's vision and engage in  knowledge sharing by becoming partners.

Apply to become a partner »


Individual membership

Register as an individual member of SuSanA free of charge. As a member you can interact with thousands of sanitation enthusiasts on the discussion forum.  You can also get engaged in one of our 13 working groups and our regional chapters. Our FAQs explain the benefits further.

By getting a SuSanA login you can fully participate in the SuSanA community!

Register as a member

Login


Forgot your password?
Forgot your username?

 


close