Clean Water for
People and Planet

Over 2 billion people lack access to safely-managed potable water for drinking, cooking and washing.

OUR WORK

We form micro-utilities that provide reliable clean water piped directly to homes, clinics and schools for communities at the last mile.

While pollution, degraded ecosystems, and climate change are increasing water scarcity worldwide, our projects build momentum to protect local watersheds in some of the most biodiverse regions of the world. These solutions save families (mostly women and children) hours of time previously spent hauling water. Hours for school, work, rest and play. They build our global resilience to pandemics and underscore the mutual benefit of caring for the environment so that it can care for us.

OUR FOCUS

Community Owned and Operated Micro-utilities

We go beyond wells and tap-stands, with water systems that pipe treated water directly to homes and community buildings. Home-delivery maximizes time savings, reduces contamination of water and enables the use of meters. Water meters facilitate fair and transparent payment structures. Elected community water committees lead during project development, train intensively on system administration and manage the system finances, operations and maintenance. This builds community trust, creates incentive to conserve water, pays for local technicians and enables a financially sustainable system.

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wash for community services

In many rural communities, health centers and schools suffer from lack of water and sanitation infrastructure, and agricultural cooperatives struggle to increase profits in the face of climate change. Imagine delivering a baby or managing a classroom without a bathroom and safe, running water, or irrigating your crops without access to a water pump. We work with partners to connect clinics, schools, and small holder farms to water systems, build safe, clean bathrooms, install handwashing stations, and support local staff as they educate community members in hygiene, including COVID-19 prevention.

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RIGHT-FIT TECHNOLOGY

We believe in matching the technology to the need and available resources. Leveraging community resources and purchasing in-country supports the local economy and long-term system functionality by ensuring replacement parts are available.

Biosand Filters

Using a combination of sand, gravel, and a biological layer, biosand filters provide passive and active filtration of contaminated water sources.

Chlorination

Carefully measured and applied, chlorine kills bacteria contaminates, eliminating many waterborne diseases.

Ram Pumps

Gravity-powered pumps that use hydraulics to pump water uphill and over long distances without using diesel or electricity.

Solar Water Pumping

Just like it sounds! Solar panels power pumps that draw water from boreholes and wells to fill water tanks.

Gravity Fed Systems

Systems with water sources (springs and streams) at high elevation, taking advantage of gravity to create necessary water pressure.

HOLISTIC APPROACH

Sanitation & Hygiene

Alongside water systems, sanitation and hygiene are vital components of addressing community health, fighting COVID-19 and protecting watersheds. We incorporate hygiene training in all of our water projects and work with partners to install eco-friendly latrines.

Training & Leadership

With our partners, we provide technical and administrative training so that community members are equipped to manage and maintain systems for years to come. We build off women's traditional role as domestic leaders to promote them to community leadership roles.

Watershed Conservation

Small rural communities depend on the immediate watershed to provide a steady supply of clean water. They are deeply motivated to create watershed management plans, preserving their own natural resources and contributing to a healthier planet.