Globally, about 2 million people die each year from water, sanitation, and hygiene-related causes. An estimated 525,000 children under the age of five die from diarrhea each year, often as a result of unsafe water. Childhood diarrhea is still the second-leading cause of childhood mortality.
The current approach to water has emphasized access to water, often by building large number of wells. However, we now know that access is not enough. Water may be relatively safe to drink at the well, but does not stay safe in transit or when it is stored in homes. Additionally, a focus on market solutions and pay-for-water schemes has not shown results for very poor communities.
Consequently, very rural and very poor communities are still underserved in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially.
We have a different approach.