‘Progress on Household Drinking Water and Sanitation 2000–2024’ provides a special focus on inequalities and finds that, while there has been progress over the past decade, billions of people still lack access to WASH services creating health risks and greater social exclusion.

The report finds that people living in low-income countries, fragile contexts, rural communities, children, and minority ethnic and indigenous groups face the greatest disparities.

Key findings include that:

• Despite gains since 2015, 1 in 4 (1 billion people globally) still lack access to safely managed drinking water, including 106 million who drink directly from untreated surface sources.
• 4 billion people still lack safely managed sanitation, including 354 million who practice open defaecation.
• 7 billion people still lack basic hygiene services at home, including 611 million without access to any facilities.
• People in least developed countries are more than twice as likely as people in other countries to lack basic drinking water and sanitation services and are more than three times as likely to lack basic hygiene.
• In fragile countries safely managed drinking water coverage is 38% lower than in other countries.
• While there have been improvements for people living in rural areas, there is still a gap in service delivery. Safely managed drinking water coverage rose from 50% to 60% between 2015 and 2024, with basic hygiene rising from 52% to 71%. Meanwhile, drinking water and hygiene coverage in urban areas has stagnated.
• Data from 70 countries shows that while most women and adolescent girls have menstrual materials and a private place to change, many lack sufficient materials to change as often as needed.
• Adolescent girls aged 15-19 are less likely than adult women to participate in activities during menstruation.
• In most countries with available data, women and girls are primarily responsible for water collection, with many in sub-Saharan Africa and Central and Southern Asia spending more than 30 minutes per day collecting water.
• As we approach the last five years of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) deadline, achieving the 2030 targets for ending open defaecation and universal access to WASH services will require acceleration, while universal coverage of safely managed services appears increasingly out of reach.

The post New WHO/UNICEF report finds major inequalities in WASH services appeared first on The Source.

The drinking water sector faces constant challenges of protecting public health from a growing number of existing and new water contaminants. Recent amendments in EU Drinking Water Directives, including the inclusion of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and bisphenol A (BPA), reflect the growing concern regarding the health impacts of contaminants known for their immunotoxic potential. These substances can disrupt the body’s ability to protect itself from infections and diseases and, depending on their concentrations, can pose significant risks to public health. Despite this, immunotoxicity is not yet a standard endpoint in chemical risk assessments for water quality because of limited regulatory requirements. This article emphasises the need to integrate immunotoxicity assessment into water quality assessments to enhance safety and better protect public health.

Why immunotoxicity matters
The immune system is essential for protecting the human body from infections and disease. It consists of a complex network of cells, tissues and organs that work together to defend the body against harmful substances and to remove damaged or abnormal cells.
When the immune system is impaired, the body becomes more susceptible to infections and other serious health conditions. This impairment, known as immunotoxicity, can be a result of exposure to certain chemicals that disrupt the normal functioning of the immune system. This can happen directly or indirectly.

Direct immunotoxicity occurs when a toxic substance directly damages components of the immune system (e.g., lymphatic nodes), often weakening its ability to protect the body from infections or abnormal cells, which can increase the risk of incidence of certain diseases such as cancers. Indirect immunotoxicity happens when alterations in other physiological systems (namely the nervous or hormone systems) indirectly affect the immune system (e.g., autoimmune disease induced by endocrine disruptors), disrupting its normal function. These systems work together in a complex manner to maintain a healthy immune response, and if one system is affected, it can impact the others.

Cumulative concerns
A key concern with immunotoxicity is its subtle and cumulative nature. Unlike acute health risks, the effects of immunotoxic chemicals often develop gradually, making them harder to detect early. Over time, these subtle compounding effects can lead to significant immune dysfunction. For instance, exposure to PFAS – compounds that are common in industrial discharges and detected in drinking water – have been linked to reduced vaccine effectiveness, lowered resistance to infections, and a higher risk of certain cancer types (EFSA, 2020). Similarly, bisphenol A (BPA) – widely used in plastics – is associated with endocrine disruption and an increased risk of autoimmune diseases (Chen et al., 2018).

Immunotoxicants pose an especially severe risk to vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems, particularly during critical developmental windows when the immune system is more vulnerable. These critical windows are moments when the immune system is developing specific cells or organs and establishing immune repertoires (T-cells and antibodies). Given the immune system’s vital role in maintaining overall health, immunotoxicity represents a significant public health concern. Therefore, identifying immunotoxic substances, understanding their long-term effects, and preventing their presence at harmful concentrations in drinking water and in other sources of exposure is critical to the protection of public health.

Immunotoxicity testing of contaminants
Chemical contaminants from industrial, agricultural and domestic sources are commonly present in drinking water sources. Monitoring these contaminants is essential to ensure the quality of water intended for human consumption.

Although many contaminants are regulated and anticipated by drinking water companies, others remain undetected, unquantified and toxicologically uncharacterised. This is particularly concerning for (potentially) immunotoxic contaminants, as immunotoxicity is not yet systematically considered when deriving health-based limits for chemical compounds, because of limited regulatory requirements.

While chemicals such as PFAS and BPA are increasingly recognised for their harmful effects on the immune system, many other substances are either inadequately studied during the authorisation phase or entirely overlooked in the context of water safety.
In the European Union (EU), the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals) mandates comprehensive safety assessments of chemicals. However, immunotoxicity testing is not routinely required. Immunotoxicity studies under REACH are only conducted when concern-driven scientific triggers arise, meaning potential immunotoxic effects may go unassessed.

Currently, water quality health limits are primarily based on toxicological risk assessments, considering endpoints such as carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, and organ-specific damage. However, there is still an unmet need for guidelines that also address immunotoxicity and the toxicity of other sensitive organ systems, such as the brain (neurotoxicity) and the endocrine system.

While standardised testing methods exist to assess the immunotoxic properties of individual chemicals for regulatory approval, standardised methods that can be incorporated into water quality assessments are lacking. A key difficulty lies in detecting low-level chemical mixtures in water, where multiple contaminants may interact in unpredictable ways.

There is a significant gap in understanding how these mixtures might affect the immune system compared with individual substances. A major complication is determining whether changes in immune system components, such as specific cells or proteins, actually indicate harm to immune function. This challenge applies to both individual substances and mixtures of contaminants, as well as variations in factors such as age and gender, with different methodologies potentially further complicating the process.

In addition, the immune system has built-in backup mechanisms that can compensate for damage, potentially masking the effects of immunotoxicity. This makes it difficult to establish clear, standardised guidelines for identifying and interpreting immunotoxic effects, as the immune system may adapt or compensate in ways that obscure the true extent of the damage.

Assessing risk
There is a tendency to assume that health effects are unlikely to occur at the low concentrations typically found in drinking water. But this perspective overlooks the potential long-term risks associated with low-level, chronic exposure to contaminants. Even at low concentrations, chemicals in drinking water, such as disinfection by-products or environmental contaminants, can accumulate in the body over time, potentially weakening the immune system and increasing vulnerability to infections or diseases. To address these gaps, there is a pressing need for water quality monitoring and risk assessment approaches that include immunotoxicity as an endpoint.

Emerging approaches
One promising approach to immunotoxicity testing is the evaluation of adverse outcome pathways (AOPs). AOPs are a framework for understanding how chemicals interact with biological systems, potentially leading to adverse health outcomes such as diseases (Nymark et al., 2021). AOPs map the sequence from a chemical’s initial interaction with the body, referred to as a molecular initiating event (MIE), to its final adverse impact on health, the adverse outcome (AO), through several intermediate key events (KEs). A single MIE can trigger a cascade of downstream KEs, which can diverge and lead to various toxicological outcomes (Spinu et al., 2019). Alternatively, multiple MIEs can converge into a single adverse outcome.

In the context of drinking water, prolonged low exposures to contaminants can lead to MIE, which may contribute to KEs, leading ultimately to AOs. For example, drinking water containing organohalogen disinfection by-products (DBPs), such as chloroform, trichloroacetic acid, and trichlorophenol, has been linked to mitochondrial toxicity (McMinn et al., 2019). The key event in this case is the excessive production of free radicals (reactive oxygen species), which can overwhelm the body’s antioxidant defences, leading to oxidative stress and associated cellular damage.

Despite this growing understanding of how contaminants trigger these molecular mechanisms, the application of AOP frameworks to immunotoxicity is still limited. New approach methodologies (NAMs), which include non-animal testing methods, such as in vitro bioassays and computational models, can play a critical role in bridging these gaps by providing the tools to assess key events within AOPs.

Operational approaches
AOPs may seem very technical and difficult to integrate into the daily operations of water quality managers. However, gaining a basic understanding of key concepts such as MIEs and KEs, which trigger adverse effects such as immunotoxicity, can be highly useful. This knowledge can help inform risk management decisions and assumptions, guiding more effective strategies for managing water quality across various environments, including drinking water, surface water, groundwater and wastewater.

Effect-based monitoring (EBM), for example, has gained recognition as a valuable approach for evaluating drinking water quality, complementary to chemical analytical approaches.
EBM refers to a set of bioanalytical tools (bioassays) that assess water quality by capturing the combined effects of the complex low-level mixture of known and unknown chemicals present in water, if they are active in the applied bioassays. This approach is particularly important given the complex mixtures of chemical contaminants found in water bodies, which traditional targeted chemical analyses may not be able to capture adequately.

Knowledge of AOPs can aid in identifying the most relevant effect-based method to detect immunotoxic or other effects of low-level chemical mixtures in water. In addition, it can support the establishment of effect-based trigger values (EBTs), which are used as benchmarks to assess potential health risks and guide regulatory decisions to ensure drinking water is safe. This enables water companies to implement more focused and efficient monitoring strategies, especially when time, budget or resource constraints are present. Prioritising bioassays based on AOPs may ensure that the most adequate bioassays provide relevant information based on the most critical indicators.

Integrating immunotoxicity into water quality monitoring
To address the limitations of conventional effect-based monitoring techniques in detecting the specific immunotoxic effects of complex mixtures of legacy and emerging contaminants, there is a pressing need to make use of immunotoxicological information of individual substances – and relevant mixtures – and consider integrating immunotoxicity testing methods into the routine evaluation of drinking water sources. The following recommendations outline a clear path forward:

Implementation of a tiered approach to testing, starting with broad screening bioassays and moving to more detailed studies on high-risk contaminants. This will help prioritise which chemicals to focus on, based on their potential to affect immune health.

Establish EBTs for chemical mixtures with immune effects. EBTs are the thresholds that indicate whether a chemical concentration requires further investigation. This will enable quicker decision-making when assessing water safety using effect-based methods.

Prioritise substances not routinely tested for immunotoxicity, from sources such as chemical industries, pharmaceuticals and microplastics, based on factors such as environmental persistence, potential for human exposure, and possible health risks.

Develop scientifically validated testing protocols for immunotoxicity aligned with both next generation risk assessment (NGRA) and water quality monitoring, to ensure that practices reflect the latest advancements in immunotoxicological science.

Further research to develop standardised immunotoxicity bioassays for drinking water.

Conclusion

Immunotoxicity is an essential, but overlooked aspect of drinking water safety and chemical safety in general. Chemicals that disrupt the immune system may not show immediate effects, but their long-term impacts can be adverse, especially for vulnerable populations.

The lack of standardised methods for detecting immunotoxicity in water emphasises a significant gap in current water quality practice, which leaves the public’s health at potential risk from contaminants via this route. While it is not yet definitively established whether immunotoxic effects from drinking water are likely or widespread, certain populations may be more susceptible to potential risks. With emerging contaminants posing new challenges, it is crucial that water utilities continue to take proactive measures to assess and mitigate risks, including those resulting from exposure to immunotoxic contaminants. Collaboration between scientific researchers and water utilities is crucial for conducting research that addresses knowledge gaps about the immunotoxic potential of emerging water contaminants.

Acknowledgement
The research presented in this article was funded by the Waterwijs collective research programme of Dutch water companies, Flemish water company De Watergroep, and the Association of Drinking Water Companies, the Netherlands (Vewin).

More information
Chen, Y., Xu, H. S., & Guo, T. L. (2018). Modulation of cytokine/chemokine production in human macrophages by bisphenol A: a comparison to analogues and interactions with genistein. Journal of Immunotoxicology, 15(1), 96-103. doi.org/10.1080/1547691x.2018.1476629

EFSA (European Food Safety Authority). (2020). Scientific opinion on the risk to human health related to the presence of perfluoroalkyl substances in food. EFSA Journal, 18 (9): 6223, 391pp. doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2020.6223

McMinn, B., Duval, A. L., & Sayes, C. M. (2019). An adverse outcome pathway linking organohalogen exposure to mitochondrial disease. Journal of Toxicology, 2019, 1–24. doi.org/10.1155/2019/9246495

Nymark, P., Sachana, M., Leite, S. B., Sund, J., Krebs, C. E., Sullivan, K., Edwards, S. W., Viviani, L., Willett, C., Landesmann, B., & Wittwehr, C. (2021). Systematic organization of COVID-19 data supported by the Adverse Outcome Pathway Framework. Frontiers in Public Health, 9. doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.638605

Spinu, N., Bal-Price, A., Cronin, M. T. D., Enoch, S. J., Madden, J. C., & Worth, A. P. (2019). Development and analysis of an adverse outcome pathway network for human neurotoxicity. Archives of Toxicology, 93(10), 2759–2772. doi.org/10.1007/s00204-019-02551-1

The authors: Sanah Majid is a scientific researcher and toxicologist, Daniel Duarte is a scientific researcher and project leader, and Tessa Pronk is a scientific researcher, all at the KWR Water Research Institute;
Corine Houtman is a toxicologist at Het Waterlaboratorium and VU University;
Insam Al Saify is a toxicologist at Waternet;
Merijn Schriks is a specialist drinking water quality toxicologist at Vitens;
Janine Ezendam is Head of the Department of Innovative Testing Strategies at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment;
Raymond Pieters is Associate Professor at Utrecht University and full Professor at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences;
Milou Dingemans is Chief Science Officer and Principal Toxicologist at KWR Water Research Institute and guest researcher at the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University;
All are based in the Netherlands

The post Immunotoxicity – a hidden health risk appeared first on The Source.

‘Inspiring’, ‘exciting’, ‘enhancing’ and ‘enlightening’ – these were some of the words used by the first cohort of IWA’s LeaP Leadership Programme for Young Water Professionals (YWPs) about their immersive retreat in the stunning Malaysian state of Sabah, in the northern part of the island of Borneo, on 19-22 November 2024.

The retreat is the centrepiece of this new programme, which will culminate in attendance at the 2026 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition (WWCE) in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. The group gathered in Sabah comprised: Bénigne Ishimwe Mugwaneza, Rwanda; Chotiwat (CJ) Jantarakasem, Thailand; Federick Pinongcos, USA; Igor Luketina, Austria; Laurence Strubbe, Switzerland; Linda Li, Canada; Matthew MacRorie, UK; Natalie Páez-Curtidor, Colombia; Oscar Timothy Balongo, Tanzania; Shivon Mehta, India; Yaw Abrampah, Ghana; and Yumeng Zhao, China. 

The retreat provided space in a rich environment for this diverse group of YWPs to stretch themselves, collaborate, share experiences, and challenge themselves and their ideas. With a location famed for its mountains, beaches, rainforest, coral reefs and abundant wildlife, much of which can be found in its parks and reserves, this was a retreat that fed the senses and called on the YWPs to adapt to an environment outside of their comfort zones.

Elevating the most talented

LeaP encourages a cohort of 12 exceptional YWPs to embark on a transformative journey to professional empowerment, helping them each to realise their full potential and expand their horizons. 

The programme provides successful candidates from diverse backgrounds and regions with the opportunity to forge robust professional networks and enhance their leadership skills over a 12-month period, through an immersive programme that provides a springboard for their careers and, with it, their personal and professional development. What makes this programme unique is that it’s not just about learning – it is about living the experience and empowering the individual to effect meaningful change. Fuelled by curiosity and courage, participants are advised to prepare to be challenged, rewarded and empowered as they elevate their strategic vision and leadership capabilities.

IWA is investing in the leaders of tomorrow

Supported by the Emerging Water Leaders Endowment Fund, the LeaP programme aims to nurture the leadership of high-potential YWPs by: 

• Transforming their leadership – empowering them to think and act globally 
• Building their confidence to inspire and influence others – accelerating their impact at a local, societal and global level 
• Providing the opportunity for them to learn how to adapt and thrive in ambiguous, complex and fast-changing environments
• Strengthening their foundations for future success by overcoming personal or professional barriers
• Raising their impact and visibility within IWA, with the potential to take on leadership roles in the Association over the coming years.

Providing structured learning, the programme consists of: a four-day retreat; four hours a month of preparation and project time; five hours a month in virtual learning, coaching or project team meetings; a virtual workshop in September 2025; and attendance at the 2026 WWCE.

Marking an important step in advancing IWA’s vision to build a deeply committed and connected group of future leaders, this innovative programme aims to accelerate the professional development and growth of the participating YWPs, promising to: 

• Stretch participants’ leadership skills, while helping to build a diverse group of Alumni IWA leaders, connected and engaged with IWA
• Combine inspirational thinking from specialist speakers and leadership experts, by providing deep personal learning through targeted topics, a powerful strengths diagnostic tool, and self-managed projects aided by challenge and support from facilitators, coaches and peers
• Encourage diversity of thought, perspectives, cultures and backgrounds to ensure that the richness of the group’s global and diverse experience is maximised.

This rich and aspirational programme is led by a Programme Committee made up of key IWA members, who will contribute to the programme by getting involved in the community sessions, working as project guides, and providing advice on the delivery of the programme.

Immersive retreat

The LeaP retreat in Sabah was a powerful four-day experience that combined radical self-inquiry, practical skills, shared learning, and meaningful conversations. Held at an eco-literacy campus set in 34 acres of natural beauty, the location featured a guest house providing communal living and powered by solar energy, and using rainwater harvested from its rooftops.

This unique retreat was relaxed and informal. Standing apart from more traditional IWA events, it provided a safe environment to explore ideas and support rich learning. A key focus of the event was on aligning ‘who you are’ with ‘how you lead’ while fostering space for growth and connection.

This began with participants reflecting on the profound notion that ‘change begins within ourselves’. These reflections culminated in setting clear intentions for the next 12 months of the programme. Participants explored pathways for personal and collective transformation, using tools such as the Logical Levels of Change (LLOC), a powerful framework for examining human experiences, and the Situation-Behaviour-Impact-Action (SBIA) Feedback Model.

Community-led engagement

On day two of the retreat, participants spent the day with leaders of the villages of Kg Kolosunan, Kg Babagon Toki and Kg Tampasak – three communities profoundly impacted by the construction of the Babagon Dam in the 1990s. 

The YWPs heard first hand how the dam submerged entire homes, displaced families and disrupted livelihoods. While the Babagon Dam now provides 57% of the state capital Kota Kinabalu’s clean water, these communities remain excluded from its supply, relying instead on traditional gravity-fed water systems.

However, this is also a story of resilience. These communities are now at the heart of Forever Sabah’s Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) pilot project, which champions the protection of the Babagon Watershed and the creation of a Babagon Catchment Water Fund. This initiative aims to compensate the communities for their environmental stewardship while fostering sustainable socioeconomic development.

This led to a workshop where the YWPs collaborated, constructing 3D models of communities in three different geographical realities, based on reflections and discussions around the following important questions: Who was missing from the picture, and is this a sustainable reality, or do things need to change? The exercise sparked deep discussions about inclusivity, equity, and the importance of holistic approaches to water management.

The day was filled with powerful conversations, emotional reflections, and inspiring stories of hope. It reminded all of the participants that water is about more than infrastructure – it’s about people, partnerships, and creating a future that leaves no one behind.

Reflecting on these activities, a key takeaway that resonated throughout the group was that leadership is about people. It’s about listening to their concerns, fostering resilient communities, and tackling challenges with an open mind.

The participants also explored what these insights mean for IWA YWPs and the broader IWA network, and joined in their commitment to raising awareness, sharing their learnings, and fostering change. The concept of the ‘Window of Tolerance’ sparked meaningful discussions. When challenges arise, many of us tend to panic or shut down. Mastering the ability to function within this ‘window’ is crucial for approaching difficult situations with clarity and balance.

The final day of the retreat marked the beginning of an exciting year ahead as participants embarked on collaborative projects designed to address critical water challenges and strengthen their leadership journey. The participants selected the following three themes on which to focus their projects:

• Pollution and Contamination Control
• Circular Economy in the Water Sector
• Achieving SDG 6.1 and SDG 6.2.

So, what’s next?

Over the course of the programme, participants will tap into the power of the IWA network, supported by the Programme Committee and project coaches, to make a tangible impact in the water sector.

Key features of the programme include:

• Coaching sessions enabling participants to discuss their strengths with experienced coaches and explore how these can propel their leadership journey
• Masterclasses focused on essential leadership topics, such as influencing with impact and leading in uncertain environments
• IWA Communities Insights sessions providing opportunities for engaging discussions with influential IWA members shaping both the Association and the water sector
• Mentoring sessions offering participants the chance to interact with mentors from within the IWA community, gaining valuable guidance and insights

Influencing with Impact Programme

On 16 January 2025, participants attended the first masterclass of the Influencing with Impact Programme. Expertly moderated by Sally Domingo-Jones and Henri Stevenson, from The Oxford Group, the session equipped LeaP’s YWPs with essential skills to master the art of influence.

The session began with an inspiring update from the first cohort, who reflected on their journeys since the retreat in Borneo. Building on their experiences, the discussion delved into the following key objectives:

• Identifying who and what they need to influence
• Recognising stakeholder personality preferences and needs
• Adapting their influencing style – one size does not fit all
• Developing soft skills to engage stakeholders effectively
• Applying these insights to real-world scenarios.

Participants also engaged in breakout discussions, exploring challenges to effective influencing and strategies for adapting their approach based on stakeholder personalities and their own strengths.

The ball is rolling!

Empowering the next generation of water leaders is at the heart of IWA’s mission, and this masterclass was a step towards shaping confident and impactful professionals. We wish them good luck and we look forward to seeing the development of this exciting new programme! 

More information

iwa-network.org/iwa-leap-leadership-programme

Emerging Water Leaders Endowment Fund

Announced at IWA’s World Water Congress & Exhibition (WWCE) held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2022, the Emerging Water Leaders Endowment Fund was launched with a generous donation of $1 million by former IWA President Glen Daigger and his wife, Patty. As an endowment, the fund aims to create a lasting legacy dedicated to supporting activities that bring about meaningful change in the lives of Young Water Professionals (YWPs).

The endowment fund has been invested, and the returns are being used in IWA’s new LeaP Leadership Programme. Officially started in November 2024, LeaP is supporting high-achieving YWPs – providing mentoring and leadership training – helping them to build their professional networks within the global water community. 

LeaP empowers YWPs to realise their full potential and make a greater impact on vital water issues. Through the programme, participants gain a strong foundation in leadership and management skills, which promises to help fast-track their professional development and benefit the water sector through their diverse experience and knowledge – gaining a breadth of expertise that will be critical to the achievement of the Sustainable Develop Goals (SDGs).

While LeaP is already transforming the careers of 12 YWPs from diverse backgrounds, it is critical that the endowment fund continues to thrive and grow. The fund provides an outstanding opportunity to invest in a sustainable, equitable and resilient water future. 

IWA is calling on everyone who can to consider making a donation. Whether your gift is large or small, your donation will be used to support IWA’s vision of creating a network of exceptional water professionals striving for a world in which water is wisely, sustainably and equitably managed. If you are interested in contributing to the fund, please see the IWA website www.iwa-network.org

The post LeaP – Empowering future water leaders appeared first on The Source.

Since 1998, the ASCE has prepared a comprehensive assessment of the nation’s major infrastructure systems using letter grades for each category and a concise but replicable methodology to analyse all aspects of system performance.

In terms of water infrastructure, the report assesses dams (D+), drinking water (C-), inland waterways (C-), levees (D+), stormwater (D) and wastewater (D+).
This year’s report finds nearly 50% of the grades increasing for the 18 categories assessed, crediting this to recent federal investments to improve US infrastructure.
The report recommends a comprehensive agenda over the next four years to sustain investment, prioritise resilience, and advance forward-thinking policies and innovations.

The post ASCE report calls for increased investment in resilience appeared first on The Source.

The initiative has already set up five operational ‘Rain Schools’ in the Mekong River region, aided by financial support from the Mekong-Korea Cooperation Fund (MKCF) and supported by the Mekong Institute (MI), creating a number of educational hubs to provide water management training and resources.
The Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), in collaboration with South Korea and Seoul National University (SNU).

Rain Schools focus on the construction of rainwater storage facilities and filtration systems in schools, enabling student access to clean water and promoting student education in effective rainwater management.

The first Rain School to be established in Southeast Asia was located at the Nguyen Binh Khiem School in Ha Long City, Vietnam, in 2022. The rainwater collection system installed there consists of a single storage tank incorporating a special film that treats the water as it flows down from the roof. The system also incorporates multiple treatment stages that avoids the failure of the whole system if failure of one stage should occur. There are now Rain Schools operating in Cambodia, South Korea and Vietnam.

The Cambodian Rain School Initiative also aims to establish community-based rainwater harvesting systems, sharing relevant knowledge with Korea by establishing a water management network with SNU.
MoEYS, RAC and SNU are seeking support from the United Nations (UN) with the aim of extending the initiative across 1,000 primary schools across Cambodia. This will be a careful step-by-step process, implemented in phases with MoEYS prioritising public primary schools as these schools are particularly vulnerable to drought. Cambodia is also discussing potential partnerships with international organisations such as the UN, WHO and UNICEF, focused on training.

The innovative Rainwater for Drinking (RFD) systems installed at Rain Schools are based on a deep understanding of the value of rainwater, reflecting local and historical cultural traditions. Each RFD provides 500 litres of safe drinking water per day, providing enough purified drinking water to meet demand at schools all year round.

The initiative is endorsed by the UN Water Action Agenda, promoting awareness and collaboration across the region by engaging students in addressing global water challenges through educational activities. The initiative also aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the water-related targets of UN SDG 6.1.

Global Rain School activities were the subject of a presentation delivered to a side event at the UN Water Conference, attended by students from a number of countries and bringing together stakeholders to discuss the pivotal role of rainwater management and explore potential strategies for future broader implementation. An article in The Source helped to introduce the schools to water professionals resulting in a Rain School Camp taking place in South Korea.

The post Rain Schools progress in Cambodia appeared first on The Source.

You cannot buy happiness, but you can come to Fiji, and that’s pretty much the same thing. Most visitors to Fiji would testify that this Fiji Tourism tagline is as close to reality as it gets. Fiji is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) in the South Pacific and one of the newest Governing Members of IWA. With a rich cultural heritage, beautiful landscapes and vibrant biodiversity, Fiji is a key hub for trade and tourism in the region.

As climate change intensifies in the Pacific, climate vulnerability of water systems under extreme weather events and rising sea levels is now endangering key water infrastructure, necessitating substantial investment in protective measures. SIDS in the Pacific are home to about 2.5 million people, living on hundreds of islands spread over the vast Pacific Ocean. The region covers nearly 15% of the Earth’s surface, with shared water security challenges and solutions.

When it comes to climate change, it is worth pointing out that, collectively, the Pacific SIDS contribute less than 1% of global emissions. However, when it comes to the impact of climate change, the Pacific is the Ground Zero in terms of the brunt of its potential impact.

Benchmarking data collected by the Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (a body representing water utilities from 21 countries of the Pacific) indicate high levels of non-revenue water (NRW) because of ageing infrastructure across the Pacific. In Fiji, an estimated 47% of water is lost to leaks and bursts in the water pipe network.

Strategic pillars

The Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) has unveiled an ambitious plan – the Water Sector Strategy 2050. This forward-looking $8.5 billion investment programme (over 27 years) aims to secure a sustainable and resilient future for Fiji’s water resources, ensuring every Fijian has access to clean and reliable water services. The Strategy is a direct outcome of the country’s first-ever national-level collective planning exercise that united stakeholders, from the public sector, private sector, tourism industry, NGOs, academia, development partners, and citizens. The document is not just a list of priority projects and investments; it is a shared vision for the water and sanitation future of Fiji.

As outlined in Figure 1, the Water Sector Strategy 2050 is built on five strategic pillars that provide a comprehensive approach to addressing water-related challenges. These strategic pillars ensure that the Strategy responds to climate vulnerability, focuses on renewing ageing infrastructure, contributes to the circular economy, enhances the natural environment, and builds on the long-term financial viability of the water sector itself.

Response strategies

• Tackling the challenge of non-revenue water (NRW)

The high level of NRW continues to be a significant challenge for the Water Authority of Fiji. WAF’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Amit Chanan, explains: “Our pipe network is roughly 5,000 km, making it a significant challenge to identify and fix leaks. And that is why we are working with world-leading experts in NRW – who have the right expertise – to help us with this and build the capacity of our staff.”

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has reaffirmed its commitment to assist WAF in reducing NRW. Neeta Pokhrel, ADB Director to the Pacific, highlighted the ADB’s ongoing support, saying: “We are proud partners of the Water Authority of Fiji. We supported the Viria water treatment plant – one of the biggest water infrastructure projects built in Fiji in recent times. The next WAF project we are supporting is focused on reducing non-revenue water.”

In late September 2024, a performance based contract was awarded to Miya (a global efficiency-oriented water operator) for a water loss reduction project in the Suva-Nausori Region – home to the country’s capital city – and WAF’s flagship response strategy to address high NRW. A key feature of this five-year programme includes capacity building for WAF staff, who will be trained in best-practice water loss reduction.

• Focus on wastewater treatment upgrades

On the sanitation front, the Water Sector Strategy 2050 gives priority to wastewater management – prioritising the lion’s share of investment for improving wastewater treatment and access to safe sanitation.

A total of $5 billion is earmarked for wastewater management, with several high-priority projects identified. The Kinoya Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade is the first priority project, and aims to enhance capacity and efficiency, ensuring improved wastewater management for Suva. This project is vital for protecting the environment and public health, while supporting the region’s sustainable development. The ADB and the European Investment Bank (EIB) are supporting WAF with design development works that are already under way for the multi-million-dollar upgrade to the biggest wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the country.

In addition to Kinoya, the decentralised wastewater management strategy for Greater Suva will see limitations on wastewater volume currently being pumped over long distances to the Kinoya WWTP, with plans for two additional treatment plants to be built in the Lami and Nausori areas. The strategy will also address the backlog of sewerage works and upgrades to the wastewater network around Kinoya. Tenders for construction works for the Kinoya WWTP upgrade are planned to be called by mid-2025.

• Strengthening financial viability

A financially viable WAF will be critical to the delivery of the Water Sector Strategy 2050. Therefore, a financial model that reduces dependency on public sector grants is one of the key strategic pillars of the Strategy. With assistance from the ADB, Fiji’s Competition and Consumer Commission has recently commenced a tariff review for water services.

If implemented, these tariff reforms have the capacity to strengthen the water sector’s financial viability. It is also expected to enhance WAF’s operational efficiency, ensuring sustainable and reliable water services for all Fijians. Fiji’s Water Sector Strategy 2050 is a bold and timely step towards a secure water future. By focusing on climate resilience, infrastructure health, sustainable development and community engagement, Fiji is setting an example for SIDS across the Pacific and globally. The Strategy underscores the importance of global collaboration and peer-to-peer learning in addressing water challenges. Many IWA members – both individuals and organisations – have been invaluable international partners who have supported the WAF team in developing the Water Sector Strategy 2050, and have been key in shaping a resilient and sustainable water future for Fiji.

The authors:

Juliet Korovou and Peni M Shute are from the Communications & Stakeholder Engagement Department of the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF)

The post Fiji’s Water Sector Strategy 2050 appeared first on The Source.

Achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.1 – universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water – is a critical global challenge. While developed nations generally meet water accessibility standards, sub-Saharan Africa struggles with significant deficits in basic water services, affecting more than 336 million people. Nigeria exemplifies these challenges, with more than 40 million Nigerians lacking access to improved water sources and nearly half of its water infrastructure assets being non-functional or failed. This poses a critical issue given Nigeria’s rapid population growth. Addressing these infrastructure failures and ensuring sustainability is crucial to achieving SDG 6.1 in Nigeria.

Why are infrastructure assets in Nigerian communities failing?

Water infrastructure, such as boreholes, often fail because of issues ranging from poor planning in the pre-construction phase to lack of maintenance post-construction. A systematic review conducted by Adeoti et al. (2023), published in Water Policy, the official journal of the World Water Council, identified 265 factors causing infrastructure asset failures based on the analysis of 15 studies. These factors were grouped into 52 distinct themes and categorised into technical, financial, environmental, social, political, and institutional factors.

The complexity of these multifaceted issues requires a comprehensive approach and framework to navigate. However, there is no such framework in Nigeria. Consequently, the authors proposed a sustainability framework for water infrastructure in Nigeria, encompassing all stages of water development.

Creating a framework for sustainable projects

Developing a comprehensive framework requires an iterative research cycle based on a transdisciplinary research method. This method draws knowledge from various sectors, including industry experts, academia, government officials, and end users.

Through transdisciplinary PhD research, we have been dedicated to addressing the high failure rate of water infrastructure in Nigeria. We conduct our research by creating conceptual solutions, piloting them, collecting and analysing data, and continuously refining our approach. This iterative process helps us understand challenges, identify effective strategies, and build a sustainable framework for water infrastructure.

Our recent research (Adeoti et al. 2024), published in IWA’s journal Water Supply, challenges the prevalent assumption that state-level poverty metrics are reliable indicators of community water infrastructure and poverty conditions. The state-wide multi-dimensional poverty index often fails to capture the nuanced and localised challenges faced by individual communities. Precision mapping and comprehensive surveys are essential for identifying specific community needs and interrelated challenges.

The study also examined borehole failure trajectories and classified states of functionality to mirror the actual conditions encountered on the ground, improving understanding of how boreholes transition from full operation to total failure and abandonment. The examination noted the lack of functionality monitoring and the absence of preventive maintenance as contributing factors. The study proposed the need for smart infrastructure for monitoring and data collection, enabling historical trend analysis and pre-emptive maintenance. Consequently, the study proposed that a holistic approach to water infrastructure sustainability must include mapping and constructing smart water infrastructure to ensure long-term sustainability.

What is mapping and why is it important?

As previously mentioned, more than 40 million Nigerians lack access to clean drinking water, yet the precise locations of these individuals remain unknown. Addressing people’s problems effectively requires understanding of where they live and the interrelated challenges they face. A mapping project aims to ascertain the locations of people suffering from extreme water poverty, identify the interrelated challenges they face, and gather necessary data to develop tailored and sustainable solutions for their communities.

A pilot project to test the feasibility of this mapping project was conducted across 1696 communities in three Nigerian states. The outcome demonstrated that mapping is essential, important, and achievable for creating tailored solutions that meet community needs and ensure longevity. The data on the mapped communities is kept up to date through communication with community caretakers identified during the initial mapping.

How smart water infrastructure can solve the problem

Smart Water Kiosk case study

Smart water infrastructure, leveraging Internet of Things (IoT) technology, enhances the efficiency and sustainability of water supply systems. By integrating sensors and smart meters, these systems collect extensive data, enabling proactive maintenance and strategic water resource management. This case study examines how the implementation of an initial Smart Water Kiosk (SWK) in a mapped community provided key insights, ultimately leading to the development of a more advanced mobile SWK.

Implementation and insights from the initial Smart Water Kiosk

The SWK was introduced as a pilot project to test the viability of smart water infrastructure. It was equipped with IoT devices capable of monitoring water flow, detecting leaks, and tracking the volume of water sold or dispensed. Over a three-year period (2021 to 2024), the SWK collected extensive data that proved crucial in assessing its effectiveness and guiding necessary adjustments.

Initially, the kiosk achieved a Self-Sustainability Rating (SSR) of 22%. However, uncoordinated aid efforts from another NGO, which installed a free-use water well within the community, led to an overlap of aid that drastically reduced this rating to zero. This overlap caused a significant drop in kiosk usage as residents opted for the free option, undermining their willingness to pay and threatening the kiosk’s sustainability. Consequently, water had to be provided for free to prevent abandonment. Despite this challenge, the kiosk eventually achieved a 100% Sustainability Rating (SR) through external support and maintained a high Reliability Rating (RR) of 97.1%, remaining operational for 1063 out of 1095 days.

Development of the mobile Smart Water Kiosk

The challenges and insights from the initial SWK informed the development of a mobile SWK, equipped with a water treatment plant. Designed to address the issue of aid overlap, the mobile kiosk offers flexibility, allowing it to be relocated when no longer needed or when similar aid initiatives arise in a community. This adaptability ensures that the infrastructure remains functional, sustainable, and effectively serves communities with genuine water needs, preventing redundancy and ensuring optimal resource utilisation.

Recommendations

The SWK case study demonstrates the significant potential of smart water infrastructure in addressing water poverty and infrastructure failures in Nigeria. The iterative process of designing, piloting, data collection, analysis, and redesign proved essential in developing resilient and sustainable solutions that cater to specific community needs. Mapping played a crucial role in this process, ensuring interventions were both effective and aligned with the realities faced by communities.

To build on these insights and ensure the long-term sustainability of water infrastructure projects, the following policy recommendations are proposed:

• Coordinate aid with centralised water management: Establish a centralised water asset database to prevent aid overlap and ensure efficient resource allocation. This system would help coordinate all water infrastructure projects, directing efforts towards communities with genuine needs, thereby avoiding redundancy and ensuring that contributions are complementary and sustainable.
• Adopt an iterative research and development approach: Implement an iterative research and development cycle, treating each water project as an ongoing pilot for innovation. This approach facilitates systematic data collection, identifies best practices, and allows continuous improvement. By refining smart water management practices based on real time data and community feedback, every project contributes valuable insights to enhance the design and implementation of future water infrastructure initiatives.

By learning from data and analysis, combined with lived experience, and a model that can adapt to community needs, this project has evolved, enabling it to be more flexible, sustainable and resilient.

The authors

Oluwagbemi Samuel Adeoti is a transdisciplinary PhD researcher at the University of Technology, Sydney, and CEO of Fairaction International

Saravanamuthu Vigneswaran is Emeritus Professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Technology, Sydney, and an IWA Distinguished Fellow

More information

For more details and access to the mapped communities, please visit:

https://target6.1map.management

Adeoti, O. S., Kandasamy, J., & Vigneswaran, S. (2023). Water infrastructure sustainability in Nigeria: a systematic review of challenges and sustainable solutions. Water Policy, 25(11), 1094-1111. doi.org/10.2166/wp.2023.173

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381280963_Water_infrastructure_sustainability_challenge_in_Nigeria_A_detailed_examination_of_infrastructure_failures_and_potential_solutions

doi.org/10.2166/ws.2024.127

The post Smart solutions – a Nigerian answer to access appeared first on The Source.

Emerging economies across Latin America, Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa are making bold investments in water supply, sanitation, and wastewater treatment, driven by the pressing demands of water security and sustainable development. Recognising wastewater as a valuable resource, these nations are embracing circular economy and decentralisation principles to build systems that are both resilient and financially sustainable.

Unlike the Global North, where it has taken decades of incremental progress to transform carbon-intensive systems into more efficient ones, the Global South has the unique opportunity to leapfrog directly to advanced solutions. By incorporating integrated urban water management and circular economy principles from the outset, these countries are reconstructing thinking around water infrastructure, so that it becomes a cornerstone of a sustainable, low-carbon future. In doing so, they are not only addressing their immediate needs but also positioning themselves as global leaders in innovative, climate conscious water solutions, setting new benchmarks for the world to follow.

Such innovative advancements in water management by emerging economies resonate strongly with the ambitious efforts of India to address its pressing water and sanitation challenges. During my recent visit to the country, including participation in the latest edition of India Water Week, I saw first-hand how the country is leveraging global collaborations and innovative approaches to transform its water systems. India stands out as a powerful example of how international partnerships are driving progress towards sustainable, resilient, future-fit water and sanitation solutions.

Challenges, progress, and global leadership

With only 4% of the world’s water resources – but home to 18% of its population – India faces severe water scarcity, where more than 100 million urban residents live with perennial shortages and another 125 million experience seasonal scarcity. The rapid depletion of groundwater – which supplies more than 80% of domestic needs – coupled with pollution affecting 70% of surface water resources highlights the complexity of the issues to be addressed to deliver sustainable, equitable supplies.

Drawing on global best practice through active engagement with international organisations, including IWA, India’s response to these challenges is multifaceted and collaborative. This exchange enables India to gain from successful global strategies while sharing its own innovative solutions with other emerging economies. Initiatives like Odisha’s Drink from Tap Mission, which aims to provide 24/7 potable water to urban households, reflects the scale and ambition of India’s vision. National programmes such as the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) further underscore India’s commitment to ensuring universal access to sanitation and safe drinking water.

By fostering global partnerships and embracing knowledge exchange, India is both reshaping its water management strategies and at the same time establishing itself as a model for sustainable solutions within the global water community.

IWA and India

India’s growing involvement in IWA highlights its commitment to engaging with global best practice and sharing its own innovative solutions. Since the establishment of IWA’s India Chapter in 2018, India has significantly increased its presence in global water discussions, contributing to major IWA events, from the 2019 Water and Development Congress through to subsequent editions of the IWA World Water Congresses and Specialist Group Conferences. With the second-largest membership in the IWA network, the country’s participation reflects its strategy to merge international expertise with localised solutions.

At the 2024 World Water Congress and Exhibition in Toronto, India’s first-ever country pavilion, organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), showcased the transformation of the River Ganga and India’s leadership in sustainable water management.

Further cementing its role, India invited IWA to actively participate in the 8th India Water Week 2024, focusing on ‘Partnerships and Cooperation for Inclusive Water Development and Management’.

This growing collaboration with IWA and the country’s active participation in global water discussions have laid a strong foundation for India to transform its water supply, sanitation, and wastewater systems.

A new vision for water and sanitation

India is embracing a new vision for water supply, sanitation, and wastewater management, guided by the principles of Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM). This approach emphasises a diversified portfolio of solutions, combining conventional and non-conventional water sources to build resilience and adapt to evolving needs.

Inspired by models like Singapore’s Four National Taps, India is pioneering an ambitious approach. One example is the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), which has adopted the ‘Six Kudam (Pot) Approach’, integrating reclaimed water through tertiary sewage treatment, community-level rainwater harvesting, demand-side management, desalination, surface water reservoirs, and inter-basin transfers, The reclaimed water, used for non-potable industrial applications and indirect potable reuse with lakes as environmental buffers, highlights the potential for circular economy principles in urban water management. In addition, initiatives in Chennai such as the utilisation of abandoned quarries for stormwater storage demonstrate creativity in addressing water scarcity.

India’s water management strategy extends beyond urban areas, deeply rooted in its cultural and spiritual reverence for rivers. With more than half of its rivers polluted, this perspective has driven transformative efforts, including the NMCG.

This flagship initiative aims to restore the River Ganga as a vibrant ecosystem, respecting its sacred and ecological importance. Guided by a river-centric approach, the NMCG prioritises the river’s health in every decision, adopting a metaphorical ‘guardian lens’ to ensure that all actions and activities align with sustaining the river’s wellbeing. This commitment has led to the construction of more than 150 sewage treatment plants (STPs), significantly reducing untreated wastewater discharge while enhancing the integrity of the surrounding ecosystem. Importantly, the mission integrates lessons from past shortcomings to ensure sustainable and impactful outcomes. As this model expands to other river basins, India is redefining its rivers as essential lifelines and guardians of ecosystems.

By reimagining its sanitation systems, India is advancing a comprehensive portfolio of solutions that combine non-sewered sanitation (NSS), decentralised systems, and large-scale infrastructure. More than 1000 faecal sludge treatment plants (FSTPs) address land and water pollution challenges, while states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Odisha are integrating NSS with existing sewage systems to create scalable sanitation models.

With respect to decentralisation, the State of Karnataka, of which Bengaluru is part, has introduced legislation allowing apartment complexes to sell 50% of their treated wastewater for non-potable uses, in turn creating a market for reclaimed water and providing an incentive for the efficient operation of 2500 on-site STPs in the city, highlighting the potential of policy innovation and market-driven solutions.

Alongside this, the city is transferring treated wastewater to rejuvenate more than 125 rural lakes for agriculture use, while advancing sludge processing to produce Class A biosolids and biogas production at centralised STPs, and exploring carbon credit opportunities for captured methane emissions.

Digital technology is increasingly becoming a key enabler in this transformation, with mature startups like SmartTerra and Solinas Integrity using AI, IoT, and robotics to improve system efficiency, detect leaks, and provide predictive maintenance.  Forward-looking utilities in Chennai, Coimbatore, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Pune, Cochin, Trivandrum, Mumbai and Kolkata are engaging their services to better understand their underground assets, and in turn improve their services.

Nationally, IWA’s Digital Water Programme, through its India sub-group, brings together experts and stakeholders to promote knowledge exchange and the adoption of digital tools suited to local contexts. These initiatives highlight India’s commitment to using technology as an enabler to address water challenges, optimise resources, and build climate-resilient infrastructure. By combining innovative technology, traditional wisdom, and global partnerships, India is transforming water and sanitation delivery, ensuring equitable access, preserving rivers, and sustaining ecosystems. This change is fuelled by a dynamic hub of research institutions, startups, and utilities driving local innovation with global reach.

Harnessing local strengths for global impact

India has established a robust, dynamic and agile system that is facilitating a transformation of its water and sanitation infrastructure. This ecosystem is built on three foundational pillars: research and development (R&D) centres generating groundbreaking ideas, incubation hubs and startups commercialising these innovations, and forward-thinking utilities eager to transform their operations. Together, these elements create a synergy that is paving the way for a future where India’s water and sanitation systems are efficient, resilient, and adaptable to emerging challenges.

Academic institutions are at the heart of this transformation, serving as hubs for innovation, experimentation, and education. Renowned institutes like IIT Bombay, IIT Roorkee, IIT Madras, BITS Pilani, TERI University, and CEPT University are not only training the next generation of water professionals but also advancing solutions that align with global sustainable development objectives.

Institutions like CEPT University’s Centre for Water and Sanitation (C-WAS) and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), as part of the National Faecal Sludge and Septage Management Alliance, are at the forefront of advancing NSS in India. They work with urban local bodies on capacity building, documenting successful case studies, and shaping policies, supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). CSE has launched platforms like Menu on Un-Networked Technologies (MOUNT) to disseminate knowledge and drive innovation, while C-WAS pilots NSS approaches in Maharashtra, serving as a model for more than 300 urban local bodies.

As India’s regional hub for the Global Sanitation Graduate School, CEPT University integrates city-wide inclusive sanitation (CWIS) into academic curricula, working with institutions like BITS Pilani Goa, IIT Roorkee, IIT Palakkad, Pune University, and Manipal University, alongside partners such as BORDA South Asia and NIUA, to expand the reach of best practice and implementation models.

Institutions like IIT Madras are driving innovation in water reclamation and reuse, exemplified by its collaboration with the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) on a celebrated 10 mld tertiary treatment plant in Nesapakkam, which adopts Porur Lake as an environmental buffer.

At IIT Bombay, Pradip Kalbar is focused on improving intermittent water supply systems and optimising networks, particularly in resource-limited regions of Maharashtra and West Bengal. His research offers cost-effective, practical engineering solutions like multi-outlet storage tanks, shafts, and manifolds that can be integrated in existing infrastructure to enhance quality of water access, emphasising the optimisation of existing systems, rather than pursuing 24/7 water supply. These institutions demonstrate how research can lead to practical, scalable solutions capable of transforming India’s water and sanitation landscape.

This environment facilitates incubators and innovation hubs that play a critical role in bridging the gap between research and real-world implementation. The Administrative Staff College of India’s (ASCI) WASH Innovation Hub collaborates with more than 600 startups, accelerating innovation in wastewater treatment, lake management, and geospatial technologies, while platforms like INK@WASH showcase innovative solutions and educate decision-makers about practical applications. The International Centre for Clean Water (ICCW), associated with IIT Madras, supports startups from conception to implementation, with alumni like Solinas and SmartTerra, mentioned above, gaining international recognition for their contributions. Similarly, the Global Sanitation Centre of Excellence (GSCOE), IIT Palakkad, focuses on advancing non-biological wastewater treatment solutions, IoT solutions, and nurturing innovative ventures like Haricken Process Intensification and T-CON UNIFLOW.

India’s progressive utilities, such as those in Chennai, Bengaluru and Bhubaneshwar, are transforming water and sanitation systems by embracing innovation in water reclamation, sludge processing, asset management, and NRW reduction, by collaborating with R&D institutions, capacity-building organisations, and startups. By adopting cutting-edge technologies and exploring new business models, such as carbon financing, they are addressing the need for sustainable, inclusive infrastructure in the face of rapid urbanisation.

This dynamic ecosystem of research, commercialisation, and implementation positions India as a leader in water management, blending local innovation with global best practices to tackle critical challenges. Additionally, the growing involvement of universities and young professionals connecting with global networks, including IWA, is advancing knowledge and driving sustainable solutions in the sector.

Establishment of student chapters

India’s water sector is undergoing a transformative shift, driven by young professionals and forward-thinking academic institutions eager to connect with global networks. IWA’s Young Water Professionals (YWP) India Chapter, established in 2022, is central to this change, offering mentorship, networking, and knowledge-sharing platforms to build a future-ready workforce for the country’s water challenges.

Universities from smaller cities, such as the Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science & Technology, NICMAR University and the Puducherry Technological University, are also joining this movement by establishing IWA Student Clubs. These clubs encourage discussion, leverage IWA’s global network, accessing experts and innovation, and enhance collaboration on water sector trends and challenges. This broad engagement reflects India’s commitment to inclusive development in the water sector.

Young professionals in India are also making their mark through active engagement in key IWA initiatives. Programmes such as the LeaP leadership programme for YWPs and the IWA-Grundfos Youth Action for SDG 6 Fellowship are providing invaluable global exposure and practical insights. These opportunities not only enhance the professional capacity of YWPs but also empower them to contribute meaningfully towards achieving critical Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Engagement with the international community

India’s growing collaboration with IWA exemplifies its commitment to advancing water management through shared knowledge and innovation. By engaging with global expertise and contributing its own solutions, India is fostering a meaningful exchange that strengthens domestic initiatives while enriching the broader water community.

This is a dynamic partnership – one that is supporting India in its mission to adopt cutting-edge practice, address its pressing water challenges, and position itself as a leader in sustainable water management. Aided by immersion in the IWA network, we see that India provides a beacon of how countries in the Global South can transform water management in an agile environment, unhindered by traditional, inflexible, engineered solutions, and lead the way towards a sustainable, equitable, and resilient water future.

The author:

Kala Vairavamoorthy is the CEO of the International Water Association

The post Initiative, innovation, inclusion: India’s formula for success appeared first on The Source.

PFAS – widely used, long-lasting chemicals that break down very slowly over time – have been used in many different consumer, commercial and industrial products, and when present in drinking water or wastewater contribute to a variety of harmful health impacts, including developmental challenges in children and increased risk of cancer.

In March 2023, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the first-ever national drinking water standard for PFAS under President Biden’s plan to combat PFAS pollution and enable the EPA to develop a ‘Strategic Roadmap’ to address PFAS and establish legally enforceable levels for six PFAS chemicals in drinking water.

The EPA has embarked on testing to establish the first comprehensive nationwide assessment of PFAS contamination in drinking water in the US. Testing completed so far, which assessed one-third of the country’s public water systems, suggests that 60% of the population is exposed to drinking water contaminated with PFAS.

The post US invests $1 billion to tackle PFAS appeared first on The Source.

Majik Water aims to serve rural and urban populations, mainly in Kenya, where increasing water scarcity poses a serious threat to communities. The device utilises hydrophilic materials to adsorb water from the atmosphere which, when subjected to heat and filtration, produces a plentiful supply of clean drinking water. With a target selling price of 1 cent per litre, it can be used to serve communities in the lowest income bracket.

“Where we’re operating, the air is lacking in humidity. To design for that we use desiccants – water loving materials. The best place you’d find those is if you buy a new pair of shoes or a bag, and there’s a tiny packet of clear balls,” Anastasia Kaschenko, Majik Water’s CTO, told The Source.

“That’s silica, and a variation of that is the exact desiccant we use in our prototyping now. The reason we use that is because it’s abundantly available, it’s cheap and it’s non-toxic.”

Kaschenko believes democratisation of water is key to the Majik Water project and has the potential to rid the Kenyan water market of illegal actors who exploit scarcity by selling untested water.

“There are informal players, such as the water mafia and resellers. Individuals or groups that are selling supposedly clean drinking water, but this water is both untested and the quality is unverified.”

The trio met in Silicon Valley in August 2017 during an entrepreneurial programme, which tasked participants with conceiving an idea that could impact one billion people in 10 years. Beth Koigi, its CEO, had been running a successful Kenyan water filtration company for five years before but faced challenges due to decreasing water tables.

“Filtration becomes irrelevant when there isn’t anything to filter. That was at the front of her mind when she came to California. She’d heard my team at the time was working on dew harvesting, and so she approached me and asked if it was possible in dry and very arid areas,” said Kaschenko.

“That was how we started looking into that technology and that space. We are three women, from three different continents, in a place none of us had been prior to meeting.”

Although Majik Water is still in its prototyping stage in Kenya, the company has international ambitions and is aiming to serve 70,000 people each day by 2022. If their target is met, the entrepreneurs will consider widening their reach to East Africa, although Kaschenko said the product has garnered global interest.

“We’ve actually received interest from places like Qatar, South Africa and southern India where understandably it is quite dry as well. We’re very open to that and that’s in our long-term plan for sure.”

The post Start-up produces clean water from thin air appeared first on The Source.