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he seed of the Moringa tree (Moringa oleifera) is a natural flocculant/coagulant. That is, when dried Moringa seeds or seed powder is added to water it helps to treat turbid or cloudy water by pulling together floating particles—including dirt, other solids, and some germs and worms—and when the water settles, the particles sink to the bottom of the water container. This method helps reduce dirt and germs that cause disease and illness, but it does not make the water completely free of germs and therefore Moringa seeds should not be used as the only method of treating water . A Step 2 treatment, such as filtering or solar disinfection, must also be used, however Step 2 treatments with chlorine should never be used as they may have an adverse chemical reaction with the Moringa seeds.
Moringa trees can be found in many places because their leaves, wood, and seed oil are also used as medicine, fire fuel, and food. In addition to the powder made from grinding dried Moringa seeds, one can use Moringa seed presscakes that remain after making Moringa seed oil, sometimes called Ben oil. Moringa trees grow best in dry, sandy soil, and grow quickly. The dried seed powder can only be used for one water treatment, but is biodegradable, so it is easily disposed after treatmen t.