Water For Humans, a non-governmental organization (NGO) formed in Seattle in 2008, is a relative newcomer to the growing list of non-profits mobilizing in an effort to defuse a growing global water crisis that puts more than 2 billion people at risk every day.
As the global population surges toward 7 billion people, clean water is becoming scarcer in many areas of the world, and dramatically increases the risk of death from water-borne illnesses in many countries as people are forced to risk sickness to quench their thirst.
Water For Humans works by collaborating with other NGOs, governments, universities and local communities to create solutions that provide sustainable access to water. The organization’s focus is one of partnership as it builds coalitions to bring properly sanitized water to the 2.5 billion people who currently live without it, including the 884 million people who lack clean drinking water.
Its first big project is now underway in Santo Domingo Barrio Bajo Etla, located just outside of Oaxaca City, Mexico. Water For Humans is partnering with several organizations in Oaxaca City, including Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca (UABJO), Instituto de la Naturaleza y la Sociedad de Oaxaca (INSO) as well as federal government officials.
It is also partnering with Action Sustainability, a group of experts in the field of developing proven, scientific methods for specific projects that require long-term sustainability solutions.
The plan for this project is to meet immediate tangible goals while also establishing local partnerships to continue the work in the future. The focus here is much broader than just “water;” Water For Humans is tackling illegal dumping and the cleanup of raw sewage, which will provide a foundation for clean water moving forward.
As Water For Humans draws more support and creates more partnerships, as it has done with groups like Rotary International and Global Water Watch, it hopes to expand its project operations to as many countries in need as possible.