Access to clean water is a critical issue worldwide, especially in low-income countries located in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel region, such as Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia. The state of global freshwater is under threat due to the changing climate and anthropogenic activities. Globally, the world’s largest freshwater withdrawals come from agriculture (70%), industry (just less than 20%) and domestic use (approximately 12%). However, aquapreneurs are addressing water scarcity by creating innovative solutions to manage and distribute water resources efficiently.

The surge in demand for freshwater stems primarily from a combination of socioeconomic development, industrial growth and consumption patterns. The high demand stems from cities, urban areas and regions experiencing fast economic growth. The consequences of this high demand and withdrawal of water leave approximately 50% of the global population with water scarcity for at least one month a year. This can put areas under water stress, which creates a decrease in social stability, an increase in migration and a decrease in work, as 80% of jobs in low-income countries are water-dependent. More than 33% of African countries are considered to be “water-insecure” as the changing climate increases temperatures and precipitation.

The United Nations (U.N.) warns that a global water crisis is imminent and poses severe risks to food security, diseases and livelihoods. Global warming exacerbates the water crisis by amplifying the water cycle, resulting in higher amounts of water vapor. This directly impacts Earth’s weather patterns, heating (temperature) and precipitation levels (creates excessive flooding and droughts). In response to these challenges, Aquapreneurs are creating innovative solutions to conserve and manage water resources.

Aquapreneurs and the Global Freshwater Challenge

The World Economic Forum collaborated with UpLink to help solve some of the world’s most difficult challenges, such as water scarcity. The Global Freshwater Challenge was launched in 2022. It is a five-year Innovation Initiative that seeks to make freshwater ecosystems healthier and more resilient. This challenge was the first of five parts and out of 198 submissions, 10 winners were chosen. Here are three of the winning innovations for the Horn of Africa and the Sahel Region:

Wateroam Pte Ltd

The company Wateroam created a portable (weighing about five kg) filtration pump to bring safe drinking water to disaster zones and rural communities. The manual pump has an ultrafiltration chamber that can remove 99.99% of bacteria and viruses, including E. Coli and salmonella microbes. The water is ready to drink immediately after filtering and is cheap and easy to use. It is currently used in more than 40 countries, including South Africa. It is helping more than 200,000 people worldwide.

Openversum

Openversum has developed a water filtration system that is currently being used in Somalia and Uganda. The filter can be locally manufactured. It is capable of removing contaminants such as pathogens, heavy metals, pesticides and micropollutants from water. This is an important development, as poor sanitation and inadequate wastewater treatment can increase the risk of diarrheal disease. The manufacturing costs of the filter are low and create job opportunities in affected areas.

Majik Water Technologies

Majik Water is a women-led organization that uses technology to produce water from the air in arid and semi-arid regions in Kenya. Extraction of fresh water from the air is safer than groundwater extraction because groundwater contains high levels of arsenic and fluoride. The technology acts as a dehumidifier. It draws air into the machine through an electrostatic filter, passes over refrigerated coils and then builds moisture on the coils.

Finally, the water is deposited into a holding tank. Currently, 90% of Kenya’s water sources are depleted, which increases malnutrition and the risk of disease. Yet, with this technology, more than 200,000 liters of clean drinking water is being produced each month cost-effectively and efficiently using solar thermal energy.

Conclusion

Water is an essential part of sustaining life. The Global Freshwater Challenge empowers Aquapreneurs to address water scarcity by developing innovative solutions to help ensure access to clean drinking water. UpLink continues to feature innovation challenges to provide Aquapreneurs the opportunity to showcase their work for increased exposure and the potential for financial rewards. 

– Gabrielle Schwartz

Gabrielle is based in Tallahassee, FL, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr