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Safe drinking water is a right similar to those codified for other human beings; yet millions around the world still have no access to this very essential service. Goal 6 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals is seeking to ensure access to water and sanitation and their sustainable management by the year 2030. This goal is most critical, as clean water is important not only to health but also for economic prosperity and environmental sustainability. Incorporated into this goal are several sub-issues regarding water, including inadequate access to water, poor water quality, lack of sanitation, and inefficient use of water. Out of these, access to safe and affordable drinking water predominates in the target areas that are largely underserved and rural.
Long-standing sources of contamination include industrial pollutants, agricultural runoff, and improper sewage systems. Second, climate change itself exacerbates this situation by changing water availability and adding frequency to extreme weather events, floods, and droughts. In addition, freshwater resources are already scarce in many regions. That is why, in order for everybody to have clean water, much innovative solutions and concerted efforts on the part of the government, non-profits, and businesses are needed.
In fact, a number of organizations and startups all over the world are working hard to fix the problem. They have been using various methods whereby advanced filtration technologies, decentralized water systems, community-based water management programs, and new financing models are being implemented. Such entities ensure not only access to safe drinking water at the community level but also create conducive conditions for sustainable water management.
The article highlights some of the top organizations working to realize access to drinking water, focusing on innovative approaches and impact. This ranges from organizations working on a global scale and local champions to a special focus on Indian startups changing their communities.
Founder: Tralance Addy
Founded In: 2006
Location: Irvine, California, USA
WaterHealth International is a company that provides clean and affordable drinking water globally. It applies innovative technologies in the purification and disinfection of water in communities who need them most around the world, especially in developing countries.
WHI's model is to set up WaterHealth Centers in unserved communities. In its WHCs, a mix of UV purification technology and reverse osmosis make the water safe. Once purified, it is sold at an affordable cost; hence, it is within the reach of poor communities. Basically, this model has not only achieved the delivery of clean water but also brought employment and entrepreneurship at the local level.
WHI has opened hundreds of WHCs across India, Ghana, Nigeria, and other countries, touching millions of lives. In India, WHI operates over 500 centers, the majority based in villages where access to clean drinking water poses the biggest challenge. The organization works with local governments, non-profits, and community groups to determine the locations for new centers and their long-term viability.
Key among the activities that WHI engages in is the WaterHealth Educate program for raising awareness about clean water and hygiene. This shall comprise workshops, school programs, and outreach activities in communities to change behaviors to improve public health outcomes.
The impact WHI makes is significant. Due to the cheap access to uncontaminated water, it has reduced the cases of waterborne diseases, improved the attendance rate of children at school, and emancipated women from the task of collecting water, which they have been carrying for generations. Their model just goes on to prove that innovative business solutions can really solve some of the most critical social issues effectively.
Founder: Piramal Foundation
Founded In: 2008
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Sarvajal, by Piramal Foundation, looks at providing safe drinking water in unserved rural and urban under-served communities in India. Its approach is a unique fusion of technology and local entrepreneurship to provide access to water.
Sarvajal uses solar-powered water ATMs that dispense purified water at a minimal cost. The machines are all connected to a central monitoring system that monitors not only the functioning of the machines themselves but also the quality of the water dispensed. Treatment includes multi-stage filtration, which involves reverse osmosis, a process critical for removing contaminants and hence crucial for the safety of the water.
Sarvajal has installed more than 1,500 water ATMs in 14 states within India since its inception. It covers over 400,000 individuals daily, substantially reducing the distance and time spent in fetching water. This decentralized nature of their water ATMs makes certain that remote and rural areas could have safe, clean water.
Community involvement is, hence, very strong in Sarvajal. The company collaborates with the local entrepreneurs who could handle water ATMs and offers them training and support. This model not only ensures the sustainability of the water ATMs but also provides employment locally.
Technology forms the bedrock of Sarvajal's operations. Sensors monitoring the quality of water continuously at every water ATM link up results in real time to a central server, enabling continuous monitoring and immediate redressal. Customers may even track the state of water quality and the status of the machine through their mobile phones, thus entailing trust and transparency.
While the Sarvajal model is potent, its challenges are equally undeniable—the high initial setup costs and maintenance issues in the more remote areas. Sarvajal teams up with local governments, NGOs, and corporate partners for fundraising and helps in overcoming them. They are also constantly innovating to bring down costs while increasing the efficiencies of their systems.
The holistic approach that Sarvajal adopts while giving out clean water has made a huge difference in India. Their model of using technology, local entrepreneurship, and community engagement serves as a blueprint for other regions grappling with similar challenges. Through providing access to safe drinking water, Sarvajal is not only able to improve health outcomes but also to enhance the quality of life for thousands of people.
Founder: Dr. Khan, Minhaj Chowdhury, and Michael German
Founded In: 2013
Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Drinkwell is the first social enterprise to provide both clean and, at the same time, affordable drinking water in South Asia. At the heart of their organization are innovative technologies and business models that help in the worst globally severe arsenic and fluoride contamination in the groundwater of Bangladesh and India.
Drinkwell's solution utilizes proprietary resin-based filtration technology to remove many contaminants from the water. This makes it more cost-efficient and feasible compared to traditional techniques—making the technology very well-suited for low-income communities. Water ATMs dispense the filtered water to ensure accessibility and affordability.
Drinkwell has installed hundreds of water kiosks in both Bangladesh and India, serving thousands of people every day. Their model caters not just to providing safe drinking water but also creating jobs and promoting entrepreneurship at the local level. The organization is working hand in glove with local governments and nonprofit organizations to identify areas of need and ensure that the projects are sustained.
One of the key initiatives by Drinkwell is the Community Water Enterprise program, which looks at empowering local communities in the management and operation of these water kiosks. Areas of training include water quality management, financial management, and customer service in ensuring efficient management and sustainability of the kiosks.
The impact of Drinkwell is huge. By providing access to clean water, it has reduced cases of waterborne diseases, improved attendance in schools, and empowered women within the communities they serve. Their innovative approach and commitment to sustainability make them a leading player in the fight for access to clean water.
Founder: WaterAid UK
Founded In: 1981 (India operations started in 1986)
Location: New Delhi, India
WaterAid India is a part of the international WaterAid network striving toward its vision of the world with access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene ensured in the poorest communities. WaterAid works in India among the most disadvantaged and least served communities to make sure everyone, everywhere has clean water.
WaterAid India addresses the interlinked issues of WASH by adopting a holistic approach. It works with local communities, the government, and not-for-profits in implementing such sustainable solutions. These range from installing hand pumps and piped water systems to constructing toilets and promoting hygiene education.
Community-Led Total Sanitation has been the main strategy for WaterAid India. This is a process in which communities have control over their sanitation needs, thereby constructively working on toilets for use and maintenance, with changed hygiene behavior. With community engagement at every step, WaterAid ensures solutions that are culturally relevant and sustainable.
WaterAid India also actively advocates with the Union and State Governments for amendment in policies and their formulation. They lobbyingly urge for policies that encourage WASH and make sure that the poorest and most marginalized are taken care of under such policies. This is coupled with research and data collection that informs and shapes effective WASH strategies.
Another core approach towards this mission is through education and capacity building. WaterAid India has organized extensive trainings on WASH issues with local government officials, community leaders, and schoolteachers in order to increase their capacity and guarantee the sustainability of WASH projects.
WaterAid India touches millions of lives. Their projects have accessed millions of people to clean water and better sanitation facilities. By dealing with the root causes of poor WASH, WaterAid is improving health outcomes, reducing poverty, and promoting gender equality.
Founder: Vibha Tripathi
Founded In: 2014
Location: Gurugram, Haryana, India
Swajal Water is an Indian startup leading in the use of advanced technologies to provide clean drinking water across rural and urban areas. The organization works in finding innovative solutions that are sustainable and scalable.
The flagship product of Swajal is JalBox, a solar-powered, in-village water purification system that can be deployed in remote areas with limited access to electricity. This JalBox uses a mix of filtration and UV purification to ensure the safety of the water. It is easy to maintain and can be operated by local entrepreneurs, thereby providing a source of income for the community.
Swajal has installed JalBoxes across villages and schools in India, touching thousands of lives. It clearly brings out the sustainability aspect through the use of solar power and local materials that reduce the environmental footprint of their solutions.
Swajal does not stop at providing clean water but also creates awareness about saving water and hygiene practices. Workshops, trainings, etc., are therefore held within the communities in which they work on better ways of managing this resource and limiting wastage.
What really puts Swajal at the forefront of this effort to enable access to clean drinking water is their innovative approach and strong commitment to sustainability. Their solutions are not just health-oriented, but also community-empowering and economic in nature.
Founder: Ranganath Raghavan
Founded In: 2008
Location: Bangalore, Karnataka, India
AquaSafi is an Indian social enterprise that strives to deliver safe, clean, and affordable drinking water to unserved communities. It deploys state-of-the-art technologies in water purification and enables innovative business models to actualize this vision.
These water purification systems from AquaSafi combine reverse osmosis, UV purification, and ultrafiltration to remove contaminants from the water. In this way, they are suitable for use in rural and poor regions due to their design for low cost and low maintenance.
AquaSafi works on a community-based model by partnering with local entrepreneurs who can operate and manage water purification units. In fact, such a model also provides the sustainability of units with the creation of local job opportunities. AquaSafi provides training and support to the entrepreneurs so they may operate the units effectively and with efficiency.
Since its founding, AquaSafi has installed more than 300 water purification units all over India, providing clean drinking water to thousands of people. Their systems have made a big difference in the communities which they serve by reducing the cases of waterborne diseases and improving their quality of life.
AquaSafi has robust values in education and awareness. There are frequent workshops with respect to water conservation, hygiene, and sanitation. These trainings target changing people's behaviors towards better water management practices.
AquaSafi collaborates with local governments, non-profits, and corporate partners as a means of growing its reach and impact. Such partnerships help guarantee the sustainability of their projects and deliver extra resources which can be deployed for scaling up operations.
The holistic AquaSafi approach to providing clean drinking water has made a remarkable difference in India. It claims to be one of the frontline companies in this sector because it focuses on advanced technology, community involvement, and education.
Founder: Paul Newman and the PepsiCo Foundation
Founded In: 2006
Location: New York, USA (with significant operations in India)
Safe Water Network is an international NGO working on developing innovative solutions to supply safe, affordable, and sustainable drinking water to communities in need around the world. The organization also has a strong presence in India, where it has already taken considerable initiative to improve access to water.
Safe Water Network's approach focuses on decentralized and community-owned water systems using advanced filtration technologies, such as reverse osmosis and UV purification. In addition, this organization is working on establishing and managing those systems at the local level within communities, hence ensuring sustainability and long-lasting effects.
Empowerment of local communities forms a part of the model by Safe Water Network. This is because the organization offers training and support for the local entrepreneurs in charge of the management of the systems. Besides an assurance of the sustainability of the systems, this generates local employment, contributing to economic development.
Safe Water Network places much emphasis on monitoring and evaluation. The organization applies data-driven approaches to track the performance of their water systems and hence make the necessary alterations. This helps to keep the systems in operation so that high-quality water will continue to flow, thus meeting the needs of communities.
Safe Water Network aligns itself with governments, not-for-profits, and corporate sponsors to amplify the scale of participation and impact. It also works at the policy level to advance sustainable water solutions by advocating for policies that act in the best interests of communities underserved by safe water access.
Safe Water Network has installed over 300 of these systems in India, allowing hundreds of thousands of access to clean drinking water. This work has considerably reduced the incidence of water-borne diseases, hence improving health and increasing the quality of life in communities they serve.
What makes Safe Water Network very special is its commitment to providing everybody with access to clean drinking water, through innovation and sustainability. It uniquely brought together community empowerment, data-driven decision-making, and strategic partnership to make it outstanding in the sector.
Founder: Parag Agarwal
Founded In: 2013
Location: Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
JanaJal is an Indian social enterprise whose mission is to provide both safe and inexpensive drinking water to consumers. This mission shall be achieved through the use of innovative solutions. In realizing its mission, this organization puts into operation both technological mix and community engagement.
The flagship solution of JanaJal is the installation of water ATMs that dispense purified water at a minimal cost. The water quality from these ATMs is guaranteed by the fact that they incorporate a mix of reverse osmosis and UV purification. The machines are solar-powered, and as such, lend themselves to off-grid areas.
JanaJal undertakes the local community's participation in managing and operating the water ATMs. They train and support local entrepreneurs to ensure the long-run sustainability of the kiosks, thereby providing employment to local people.
A major education and awareness drive is carried out by JanaJal regarding the importance of clean water and hygiene. This is part of the behavioral change campaign to enhance better water management practices.
They have installed more than 700 ATMs across India and provide clean water to thousands of people every day. Their work has significantly brought down the cases of waterborne diseases and has improved the health outcomes in the communities they serve.
Challenges in JanaJal include the high initial set-up costs and related maintenance problems. They partner with local governments and non-profits, apart from corporate partners, for funding and support. They also keep innovating to try to bring down costs and make their systems more efficient.
What keeps JanaJal ahead in this sector is its innovative ways of guaranteeing everybody access to clean drinking water and its commitment to sustainability. Their technology, community involvement, and education set them way ahead in this sector.
Founder: Gary White and Matt Damon
Founded In: 2009
Location: Kansas City, Missouri, USA (with significant operations in India)
Water.org is a global nonprofit that provides access to safe water and sanitation through innovative financial solutions. It has a robust presence in India, where huge strides are being made in access to water.
Water.org's WaterCredit is the very first of its kind, offering small loans to individuals and communities for the purpose of advancing water and sanitation projects. The loans can be utilized for connection to a supply of water, construction of toilets, and implementation of other WASH solutions. This program empowers people to take responsibility for their own water and sanitation needs with microfinance.
Empowerment of the local communities is an intrinsic part of the Water.org model. Here, the organization partners with local microfinance institutions and non-profits in implementing the WaterCredit program. This approach not only guarantees the sustainability of the projects but also creates local jobs and furthers economic development.
Water.org invests in intensive education and awareness campaigns on the benefits of clean water and good hygiene. These campaigns improve behaviors and motivate better practices in water management.
In India, through the WaterCredit program, Water.org has opened access to safe water and sanitation to millions of people. Their work dramatically reduced the cases of waterborne diseases, improved health conditions, and increased the quality of life in many communities where they operate.
Water.org faces challenges such as high initial setup costs and maintenance issues. To address these, they collaborate with local governments, non-profits, and corporate partners for funding and support. They also continuously innovate to reduce costs and improve the efficiency of their systems.
What puts Water.org at the very top of the campaign to ensure all people have clean drinking water is its somewhat innovative approach and commitment to sustainability. Their emphasis on financial solutions, community involvement, and education sets them apart as a leader in this field.
Equitable access to safe drinking water is one of the critical factors of UNSDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. The companies in this article are leading in finding solutions to the multidimensional challenges in providing safe, affordable, sustainable, and quality drinking water solutions. It is through innovative technologies, community mobilization, and strategic synergistic partnerships that such businesses and not-for-profits make enormous progress in enhancing access to water in unserved and rural communities.
WaterHealth International, Sarvajal, Drinkwell, WaterAid India, Swajal Water, AquaSafi, Safe Water Network, JanaJal, Eureka Forbes, and Water.org are making profound impacts. Be it cutting-edge water purification systems, high-tech water ATMs, microfinance initiatives, or community-led total sanitation programs, different organizations bring singular solutions and approaches to the table. These efforts do not only benefit immediate access to clean water but also in securing long-term sustainability and empowerment of the community.
These contributions are important in a country like India, where the crisis is as much felt through water scarcity as contamination. The work of these organizations, particularly those aiming for innovative, scalable solutions that engage locals, will help to build toward a future where everybody has access to clean water. Now, this work is important for reducing the burden of waterborne diseases, improving health outcomes, increasing educational possibilities, and empowering women and marginalized communities.
These are serious lessons learned from such pioneering organizations for any startup or business looking to make a difference in contributing towards UNSDG 6. This implies that key strategies driving success in the field of SDG 6 are a focus on sustainability, scalable technology, community engagement, and strategic partnerships. Such guiding principles and innovative new ventures could help ensure clean and safe drinking water for all everywhere.
Closer to 2030, it will be the combined effect of governments, NGOs, businesses, and communities. Though universal access to clean water remains a difficult goal to achieve, with the commitment and ingenuity these organizations have shown so far, it is within reach. On this journey, startups and new businesses have a huge role to play, and by drawing inspiration from the leaders outlined here, they can help to bring clean water to all.
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