Did you know that across the globe, 663 million people lack access to water that is suitable for drinking? That stat, courtesy of UNICEF, is sobering considering how widely available drinkable water is in this country.
Water scarcity is a significant problem across the globe. It’s not even a matter of having fresh, great-tasting water; it’s a matter of having water that is even fit for human consumption. Toss in a shortage of potable water for sanitation and you have an even bigger problem.
This dilemma is exacerbated by a lack of infrastructure in the Third World, particularly when it comes to water filtration. We take for granted the water filtration that is now commonplace in refrigerators and stand-alone units like the ones we sell. It’s sometimes hard for us to believe that this relatively-simple technology is in short supply elsewhere.
One company, though, is working to change that with their water filtration systems.
Drinkwell Rising to the Challenge
In 2013, a 26-year-old inventor named Minhaj Chowdhury created an organization called Drinkwell. Drinkwell was born out of a desire to remedy water scarcity problems throughout the globe, particularly in Minhaj’s family’s native land of Bangladesh. Minhaj remembers traveling back to Bangladesh as a kid during the summers and discovering that high levels of contaminants – especially arsenic – would regularly claim the lives of loved ones and friends.
He resolved to create a solution that would help remedy the problem of having a lack of drinkable water using a combination of knowledge he learned while studying public health at Johns Hopkins University and his entrepreneurial spirit.
Drinkwell works by supplying water filtration systems to communities throughout the globe in areas in which drinkable water is in short supply. The organization doesn’t just donate the systems, though; they actually help build a for-profit system in the local communities that can take care of the maintenance of the filtration system long after Drinkwell has come and gone.
This last part – making the enterprise a for-profit one at the receiving end – is one way Drinkwell is different from other nonprofits that work in the industry. By having local entrepreneurs take control and operate the system for profit, Drinkwell can ensure that the system stays operational as a part of a self-sustaining small business.
According to Minhaj, “Water is absolutely a human right.” While he doesn’t believe that providing water should be a for-profit enterprise – to him, it’s the government’s responsibility – many governments across the world aren’t fulfilling their duties to supply their people with drinkable water.
Changing the Game with Water Filtration Systems
The water filtration systems put into place by Drinkwell could go a long way toward lowering the 663 million people who don’t have consistent access to drinkable water.
In your own life, as an American, using water filtration systems isn’t a life-changing endeavor. But, it can make your water better for you and more enjoyable to drink. It’s just amazing that the same technology we use here in the states to improve our water drinkability is being used across the globe to change lives.
Contact us for more information on water filtration systems and water delivery services that can supply a steady stream of fresh spring water to your home or office.