Access to Clean Water

Background

For many, access to clean drinking water is a convenience we think little about. We turn on taps in our home or school and drink the water knowing that it is safe. For many in the world, though, safe, clean drinking water is resource is not accessible.

Design Problems

1. Transporting water

In some communities, water is not available. People must travel long distances by foot to a source of water for drinking, cleaning, and cooking. It takes much time to travel to collect and transport water. This role usually falls to women or children.

How might we develop a way for an individual to effectively, quickly, and safely transport water a long distance?

2. Storing Water

Not all water is clean. Waterborne illnesses cause millions of people a year to fall sick or die. In addition, once clean, drinkable water is gathered, steps must be taken to ensure it remains that way.

How might we ensure that water is safe to drink, and once stored, remains that way?

Resources

Article about water harvesting and storage: “Water Harvesting and Storage.” Water Harvesting and Storage | Land & Water | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | Land & Water | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, www.fao.org/land-water/water/water-management/water-storage/en/.
Safe water storage strategies: https://www.cdc.gov/safewater/storage.html
Article describing the impact of water harvesting on women and girls: Khiyara, Shail. “Why Is the Global Water Crisis a Women's Issue and the Top Global Risk over the next Decade?” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 7 Dec. 2017, www.huffingtonpost.com/shail-khiyara/why-the-global-water-cris_b_12450260.html.

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