World Water Day 2021: Our Clean Water Mission
At 33 Buckets, we recognize the importance of water in maintaining health, well-being, and overall quality of life. We see clean water as fundamental in achieving prosperity for individuals, families, and communities. In our existence as an organization, we have seen, first-hand, the positive outcomes of clean water initiatives. That’s why we are excited as always to celebrate World Water Day with you and to the share some amazing stories about the value of water in the communities we work with.
World Water Day was first observed by the United Nations in 1993, shining a spotlight on the value of water to all people and communities around the world (1). Since then, World Water Day has been celebrated every March 22nd to raise awareness of the 2.2 billion people without access to clean drinking water and to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Number 6: availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all (2). Every year, a special theme is highlighted on World Water Day to focus on such as water wastage, water and climate change, or sustainable development. The theme for this year’s World Water Day is valuing water.
“Water means different things to different people. This conversation is about what water means to you. How is water important to your home and family life, your livelihood, your cultural practices, your wellbeing, your local environment?... Tell us your stories, thoughts and feelings about water. By recording - and celebrating - all the different ways water benefits our lives, we can value water properly and safeguard it effectively for everyone ”
We understand that water is the key to empowering communities to thrive. Our goal is to support local communities to sustain long term clean water access and to educate the next generation on the importance of clean water.
In 2016, 33 Buckets launched its first clean water project in Peru. We worked with our local partner and school principal Agripino to launch a school-based filtration project in the community of Huillcapata. Huillcapata, home to around 100 families, is located in the Andes in the Cusco region of Peru. Water quality tests and interviews suggested the presence of dangerous pathogens in the community’s water. Agripino estimated that at least 15% - 20% of children in Huillcapata regularly experienced water-related illnesses. In response, we implemented a microfiltration system in the community’s local school. Our team provided training on the operation and maintenance of the system as well as education on best practices for WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) management.
In the years that followed, we expanded in the Cusco region, but always revisited Huilcapata. Each visit, we were amazed at the various initiatives in the community. For example, school children learn permaculture to grow their own food and medicinal products.
In those years, Agripino and the community’s primary school won awards for sustainability and innovation on a local, regional, and national level.
For 33 Buckets, we have seen the role that clean water has played in the development of Huilcapata. In our follow-up visits, we’ve learned that school children use water-related concepts in courses like mathematics and physical education.
Agripino has reported that stomach illnesses in school children have almost disappeared. Community members report being able to access clean water whenever needed. You can find these testimonials and more in our video The Story of Huilpata: Water is the First Step.
Our Strategy to Tackle the Global Water Crisis
Since our 2016 project in Huilcapata, we have learned a lot about clean water management and international development. More importantly, we’re continuously developing an understanding of 33 Buckets’ capacity and role in ending the global water crisis. The key element of our approach is working directly with communities to understand their needs and lifestyles. Every clean water initiative we launch is custom-fit to the needs of that community. However, with every project, we analyze our technical solution and training methodology to improve for the future. Our water treatment solutions have ranged from personal filters to a school-based filtration system to a community-wide disinfection system.
Rather than implementing the same treatment method over and over, our goal is to determine the most effective solution for creating clean water access to the most people. For this reason, 33 Buckets also pursues internal research & development initiatives. The purpose of our R&D efforts are to develop technologies that enable water managers to more effectively utilize existing treatment methods. These initiatives will potentially enable 33 Buckets to make a significant impact in the global water crisis within Peru and beyond. Over the next few years, we will continue to partner with communities in the Cusco region of Peru to launch clean water projects. We will simultaneously be testing our prototypes and pursuing research funding to take the next step in the growth of 33 Buckets.
None of this would be made possible without the support of your powerful donations. Learn about how our Art-for-Ague auction and Giving Tuesday fundraising from last year funded our recent assessment trip and implementation in the Executive Director update.
Consider donating to 33 Buckets through the AZ Gives site. Donating through AZ Gives allows us to reach our fundraising goals with prizes which can increase the power of your donation!
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References
(1) https://www.un.org/en/observances/water-day
(2) https://sdgs.un.org/goals