The Problem:
Only 3% of the Earth’s water is fresh water. The remaining 97% is salt water (WaterAid.org). Of the 3% of fresh water, more than 66% is frozen in glaciers and ice caps, with the remaining (running) water in underground watersheds. Only a small fraction of fresh water is above ground and is replenished by precipitation, undergoes evaporation and sub-surface seepage. According to United Nations-Water, the U.N.’s leading water program, current world population demands exceed the current fresh water supply, causing “water stress” for the one in six people in the world living without water security.
According to the U.N.’s World Water Assessment Program (WWAP), 70% of worldwide water use is for agricultural irrigation, 22% for industrial use and 8% for household use. Traditional farming is credited as being the greatest waster of fresh water on the planet.
Our Solutions:
While most organizations solely develop solutions to make dirty water potable, Contextual Solutions is taking a broader approach:
The lack of water is directly connected to deforestation and the loss of the watersheds.
Solution# 1: Our smokeless stove addresses this issue at its foundation. By reducing the need to use an excess of fallen wood from the forest floor (needed for open fire cooking), we can reduce further decimation of our forests, which is integral to maintaining our current water shed supply. This is the first step in our contribution to water preservation.
Deforested areas have poor soil incapable of replenishing vegetation.
Solution#2: The use of Aquaponics allows for the process of soil replenishing practices and techniques by providing an alternative means of growing food. Aquaponics is a “closed-loop” water system, meaning there is no water waste- only natural evaporation and absorption of the existing water supply.
Existing water sources are often polluted and non-potable due to contamination caused by bathing, laundry and waste disposal.
Solution#3: Where there is accessible water that is polluted, Contextual Solutions will provide simple filters. Where water is less accessible, we will create aqueducts. Where there are no running fresh water supplies, we will build water catchment systems to provide clean water to these communities.
How It Works:
FILTERS:
Bio-Sand filters are simple and effective. Basically, the filter consists of a large bucket with fine and course sand and at the bottom gravel. Water is simply poured into the top and from the side, out comes filtered water. Rotary International has a simple design that works well.
AQUEDUCTS:
Aqueducts work by funneling water from higher elevation to a village. They work by providing a means to capture flowing water, directing that water to a storage tank and then to the village below. This means of providing fresh water is typically the most difficult to install and often the most costly.
WATER CATCHMENT SYSTEMS:
Water Catchment systems work by allowing rain water from a roof-top to pour into an attached PVC pipe, which flows above and into a large a storage tank. The pipe and its valve that extend from tank allow for direct access to this water. This solution is fairly inexpensive, quick to install and highly effective.
Vulnerability of Systems:
Maintenance is the biggest issue in water systems. Electing and training someone who lives in the community to do the required routine checks and maintenance is the only long-term solution.
Our Strategy:
We take into account each village’s specific context (accessibility and cost-benefit ratio) to determine the most effective water system. The need for water is fundamental and international. Currently, Contextual Solutions is only able to conduct water projects in Panama and Costa Rica due to convenience and cost. As our funds grow, we will disseminate our solutions to other nations in need of this fundamental right.
Donate:
Please donate to help us to take our water security solutions to the world!
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