Safe drinking water is a right, not a luxury. Here's how to ensure no one goes thirsty

“Thousands have lived without love, not one without water,” the poet W.H. Auden once said. Access to clean drinking water is a basic life necessity that increasingly appears to be a luxury; one enjoyed by far too few. According to the United Nations’ World Water Development Report 2024, 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water, while 3.5 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation services. The situation is worsening, as climate change continues to exacerbate water scarcity, and sources of safe drinking water become increasingly subject to conflict and war.

Though 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, only 1% is available for human consumption and not all of that significantly small portion is clean. Every 10 seconds, a person dies due to a lack of access to clean water – and communities suffer bacterial infections, parasites and dehydration. Families often dedicate their limited funds to purchasing materials to purify water, or are forced to buy bottled water. Children’s education is impacted by missing school days caused by waterborne illness.

How do we combat this global crisis? Is there a decisive solution to the lack of clean drinking water? Through a combination of grassroots collaboration and existing technological tools, a community of change-makers can catalyze the solution.

In 2009, a group of surfers created Waves For Water (W4W), a non-profit organization that focuses on correcting water scarcity imbalances in developing communities around the world. Over the past 14 years, we have implemented 155 clean water programmes in 50 countries, using water filtration systems, bore wells and rainwater harvesting systems; these have benefitted an estimated 4,000,000 people. In addition to our primary focus around providing clean water, we also co-ordinate and execute natural disaster relief efforts around the world. To date, we have responded to 33 major natural disasters, including efforts in Nepal, Bosnia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Haiti, Japan, Chile and Pakistan.

From UV purification to installing atmospheric harvesting machines, plenty of solutions to procure safe drinking water already exist. What is required often depends on the type of contamination and whether there is an issue of water availability in the area. We have found the most effective and long-lasting solution to be a portable hollow fibre membrane filter that eliminates 99.99999% of harmful bacteria, the most common form of contamination seen in fresh surface water, rainwater and wells. The filter can clean up to 1,000,000 gallons of water and can last for over 10 years with simple maintenance. No electricity is needed as water flows through it by gravity. As technology advances, solutions will continue to evolve and become more effective and durable.

At the centre of our efforts is empowerment. Supported by a belief in developing and empowering local networks, we implement our programmes through local teams of volunteers and community leaders. Partnering with local groups makes our efforts sustainable for the long term, with regular visits to the beneficiary community, thus fostering an ongoing relationship and ensuring proper use and maintenance of the water filtration systems we provide.

Of particular importance is our collaboration with the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, which is comprised of over 500 city-based hubs, made up of young adults whose mission is to carry out social projects in their local communities to make positive change. Having completed 19 projects with 16 Global Shapers hubs from around the world, we have provided access to clean water to 230,000 people, bringing tremendous health and economic benefits to their communities. Working with such young change-makers gives hope that the generation of tomorrow will prioritize these kinds of climate-related issues.

Andrea Grisales, a Global Shaper from the Manizales hub in Colombia, testifies to the profound impact of one such initiative: "To witness the serious health problems of the indigenous community of Guaviare (diarrhoea, parasites and skin problems) due to lack of access to safe water tells us that it is worth every effort, resource and time invested in this project and that the filters are a more than wonderful solution. I would repeat it many more times. Thanks, Waves For Water for making it possible."

A society’s productivity is enhanced with access to clean water. Deaths related to bacterial infections and dehydration are reduced, as are hospitalizations. Children miss fewer school days due to waterborne illness, and adults recapture lost work days, leading to opportunities for increased income. Families save on costs associated with water purification techniques such as purchasing bottled water, and wood or coal to boil water.

The benefits are clear and the solutions exist – but a targeted and united approach will greatly reduce the challenges facing 25% of the world population. With the technology already in place and incrementally improving, the question that remains is whether there is an appetite for collaboration to do good. Partnering with Global Shapers all around the world gives us great hope that tomorrow’s generation sees the value of teamwork to achieve positive impact. Will you join them?