Water Filters
Ceramic candle water filtration technology, community training, and follow-up — providing clean drinking water to families in rural Guatemala.
500+
Filters Installed
80%
Fewer Waterborne Illnesses
90%
Less Child Diarrhea
5-6
People per Filter
The Water Crisis in Guatemala
In Guatemala, less than 49% of the population has access to safely managed drinking water — 90% of the country's water sources are contaminated (Ministry of Environment, Human Rights Watch 2025). Only 19% of households have running water all day, every day.
Guatemala has the highest under-5 mortality rate in Central America at 20.5 per 1,000 live births (UNICEF 2024), with diarrhea accounting for nearly 8% of those deaths — a higher share than any neighboring country (Human Rights Watch).
In our experience working with rural communities, stomach diseases, malnutrition, and skin problems are the main issues caused by water pollution — with children being the most affected.
- 2.05% under-5 mortality rate — highest in Central America
- 45.8% chronic malnutrition (stunting) — highest in Latin America
- Leading causes: diarrhea, parasites, respiratory infections
Our Impact with water filters
Filters Delivered
Bacteria & Parasites Eliminated
Less Medical Expenses
Families Report Better Health
Utz Ja' — Good Water
Our program uses Utz Ja' ("Good Water" in Maya) ceramic gravity filters — a replaceable porous ceramic "candela" coated with colloidal silver that removes 99.99% of pathogens (E. coli, Cholera, Salmonella, Giardia, parasites) and 99.7% of turbidity — no electricity or chemicals needed.
Basic maintenance is required only every 6 months to a year. Each filter benefits 5-6 family members and reduces the cost of buying purified water significantly.
- Ceramic Candle Filtration
- Colloidal Silver Technology
- 99.99% Pathogen Removal
- Maintenance: 6-months to a year
San Juan Cerritos — 80% Less Amoebas
In the community of San Juan Cerritos, Suchitepequez, Living Heritage held medical clinics from 2013 to 2015. The medical staff discovered that most patients suffered from parasites — amoebas, giardiasis, and others — all found in polluted waters.
Thanks to the Water Filters program, 135 filters were donated to the community. Families received training on the correct use of the filter, and deworming medicine was provided to all family members.
📊 The following year, amoeba cases had been reduced by nearly 80% — a testament to the power of clean water.
How It Works
From community selection to follow-up — our proven process ensures lasting impact.
Identify rural communities without access to purified water
Work with local leaders to prioritize most vulnerable families
Train families on clean water, hygiene, health, and filter assembly
Provide deworming medicine and deliver filters to each home
Follow up after 6 months to verify correct usage and impact
Already Sponsor a Child? Give Them Clean Water Too
You already change a child's life through sponsorship. Now you can extend that impact to their entire family — a Utz Ja' water filter means fewer illnesses, lower medical costs, and safer water at home for your sponsored child and their loved ones.
1. You sponsor a child through our programs
2. Donate a Utz Ja' filter for their family
3. We deliver it directly to their community with training
Add your sponsored child's name in the donation note and we'll ensure the filter reaches their family.
How Can I Help?
A single water filter can change the life of an entire family. Every contribution brings clean water to those who need it most.
Filter Fund
Contribute to our general filter fund — every dollar brings a family closer to clean, safe drinking water.
Spare Parts
Help maintain the filters already installed by contributing to the cost of spare parts and replacement components.
Sponsor a Family
Cover the full cost of a water filter for one family — giving them access to purified water and better health.
What People Say
Thanks to the water filter, my children no longer get sick. Now we have clean water at home.
Before the filters, almost everyone in our village had stomach problems. Now our children are healthier and we spend less on medicine.
The training taught us how to keep our water clean. We no longer need to buy bottled water — the filter gives us all we need.