The Moringa Tree: Find a Natural Home Water Purification System

(NaturalNews) One of the big problems in developing countries is the availability of clean drinking water. Is there an inexpensive, natural, home water purification system that will allow poor people access to clean drinking water? Indeed, there is. The seeds of Moringa tree can be used as an effective water clarifier and home water purification system.

Uses of the Moringa Tree

The Moringa tree (Moringa Oleifera) has been dubbed "The Miracle Tree" by many. This is because every part of the Moringa tree, from the roots to the leaves has beneficial properties that can serve humanity. It is a deciduous, perennial tree that grows to about 10 m tall with drooping branches. The tree provides shade, nutritious food, medicine and oil for biodiesel and other products and can even purify and clarify water. In addition, the Moringa grows best in dry sandy soil and is drought resistant, thus providing a source of food and medicine in arid regions.

According to Baptiste Nduwayezu, leader of the Moringa Oleifera Project in Southern Africa, the tree can be dubbed "The Green Diamond of Africa" because it can also generate revenue if fully utilized for its medicinal and nutritional values. He added that "Moringa leaves and seeds can improve health conditions of HIV positive people, increase breast milk in lactating mothers, lead to improved health of babies and also treat a number diseases such as TB, diabetes, heart problems, lower blood sugar levels, eye and ear infections and other diseases".

Apart from the problem of poor nutrition in many developing countries, there is the problem of disease due to polluted drinking water. The fact that the seeds of the Moringa tree can purify and clarify water, thus eliminating most of its turbidity and bacteria, means that this tree truly is a miracle tree for many poor people.


Using Moringa Seeds as a Home Water Purification System

In order to make an effective water purification system, the Moringa seeds are dried and then ground into a powder. Unlike other particles in the water such as clay, bacteria, and other toxic materials which are negatively charged, the protein in the Moringa seed powder is positively charged, thereby attracting the negatively charged particles like a magnet. The flocs formed by the floculation process can then be easily removed by allowing the water to settle, or removed by filtration. This process is said not only to clarify turbid water significantly, but also to remove 90-99% of bacteria contained in water.

It would appear that there is overwhelming evidence to warrant giving the Moringa tree the title "Miracle Tree". Not only can the Moringa provide highly nutritional food to the people who need it the most, but it can also clean their drinking water.

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Growing Moringa Oleifera for Money

The Various Uses of Moringa Oleifera. Moringa was well known to the ancient world, but only recently has it been “rediscovered” as a multi-purpose tree with a tremendous variety of potential uses. A lot of people are asking for the Yoruba name of the plant, moringa is not a native plant but is being called ‘igi iyanu; because of its many medicinal uses. Moringa is a plant for now and for the future, a moringa plantation can provide jobs for hundreds of Nigerians.
A plot of land using planting spacing of 3meters by 3meters will take about 100 stands and from a personal survey, 100 stands after 6 months can generate an income of N120,000 monthly from the powdered leaves. Moringa Tea can also be a good product from your moringa trees. I advice that every reader of this column should order for their moringa seedlings as CUAD unfolds more local and export potential of moringa oleifera. Let us learn more on the uses of this wonderful tree.
Propagation:
Production rates within 3 years of planting one tree will produce 300 to 400 pods every year and a mature tree can produce up to 1,000 pods. Frequent pruning of the growth tips will maintain and increase leaf growth and the height can be controlled to make harvesting easier.
Uses:
The pleasant-tasting edible oil which can be extracted from the seeds was highly valued by the ancient Roman, Greek and Egyptian civilizations for use in making perfume and in protecting skin, and during the 19th century Moringa oleifera plantations in the West Indies were exporting the oil (known as Ben oil) to Europe for use in making perfumes and as a lubricant for fine machinery.
In the Indian sub-continent Moringa has long been cultivated for its edible fruit; today these are exported, fresh and in tins, to consumers in Asia and Europe . The edible leaves of the tree are very nutritious and are consumed throughout West Africa as well as in some parts of Asia . Powder from seed kernels works as a natural coagulant which can clarify even very turbid water, removing up to 99% of the bacteria in the process.
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