Water Solutions Directory
An index of the world's most promising water intervention technologies, categorised by application to help you find the best fit for local community needs.
Extraction & DrillingVillage Drill (Manual Hybrid)
A revolutionary human-powered drilling machine that bypasses heavy truck transport constraints. It drills down to 250 feet, keeping project capital in the local economy by employing trained regional operators.
Key Advantages
- ✓Human-powered (no fuel)
- ✓Extremely portable for remote access
- ✓Empowers local micro-enterprises
Filtration & TreatmentSawyer Hollow-Fiber Membrane Filters
Gravity-operated point-of-use filter units with 0.1-micron absolute pores. They physically remove 99.9999% of bacteria and protozoa, operating without electricity or chemicals, and can last 10+ years with simple syringe backwashing.
Key Advantages
- ✓10+ year lifespan
- ✓Ultra-low cost per person ($1/yr)
- ✓No replacement parts or chemicals needed
Filtration & TreatmentBiosand Sand & Gravel Filters
Household-scale concrete or plastic containers containing structured layers of sand, gravel, and an active biological layer (schmutzdecke) that consumes pathogens. Highly resilient and built with 100% locally sourced materials.
Key Advantages
- ✓Resilient, infinite lifespan
- ✓Made entirely of local materials
- ✓No ongoing running costs
Extraction & DrillingBoreholes & Deep Aquifer Wells
Deep, machine-drilled wells that tap into high-yield, protected sub-surface aquifers. They are sealed from biological surface contaminants and fitted with heavy-duty handpumps or solar submersibles.
Key Advantages
- ✓Consistent, year-round water
- ✓Protected from cyclones & droughts
- ✓Extremely high volume capacity
Extraction & DrillingGravity-Fed Spring Systems
Harnessing elevated natural springs, encasing the source in concrete, and gravity-piping clean water down to local communal tap stands. Requires zero pump electricity or complicated mechanical parts.
Key Advantages
- ✓Zero pumping energy needed
- ✓Minimal mechanical parts to break
- ✓Extremely low maintenance requirements
Finance & CapacityWaterCredit (Microfinance Loans)
Providing affordable, low-interest microfinance loans to households, enabling them to invest in their own customized water taps, piping, or toilets instead of waiting for years on charity hand-outs.
Key Advantages
- ✓Dignity and choice of solution
- ✓High repayment rates (99%)
- ✓Capital recycles to help more families
Filtration & TreatmentChlorination Dispensers
Point-of-collection chlorine dispensers situated at local water sources. Community members add a precise, safe dose of chlorine to eliminate waterborne pathogens and protect water during home storage.
Key Advantages
- ✓Eliminates viruses (highly effective)
- ✓Extremely cheap per person
- ✓Protects against container contamination
Extraction & DrillingRainwater Harvesting Systems
Installing rooftop guttering, coarse filters, and high-capacity storage tanks on local homes, schools, or clinics to capture and store seasonal volcanic or oceanic rain.
Key Advantages
- ✓Completely free source water
- ✓Requires no drilling or excavation
- ✓Ideal for volcanic & oceanic islands
Finance & CapacityWASH Training & Capacity Building
Community-led workshops teaching water safety, sanitation hygiene (WASH), filter maintenance, and financial budgeting to ensure local water committees can sustain the project indefinitely.
Key Advantages
- ✓Prevents project abandonment
- ✓Creates local technicians & jobs
- ✓Drastically reduces sanitary diseases