Protecting the environment

Water tables are falling dramatically in many parts of the world due to over-abstraction of water for agricultural and industrial uses, and changing weather patterns.

Pollution, resulting from rapid population growth and industrialization, is also increasingly threatening the safety of groundwater.

WaterAid and partner organizations help communities to protect their local environment by addressing the issues of water depletion and contamination through appropriate water resource management and effective sanitation.

Conserving water sources

The long term viability of water sources is assessed before project work is started. Where necessary, projects aim to conserve water by alternating the use of water sources, or by using different sources for different purposes.

While it is necessary for good health to use safe water sources for drinking, traditional sources such as river water can be used to wash clothes, water kitchen gardens, clean houses or give to livestock.

Recharging aquifers

In water-scarce regions, projects are set up to recharge aquifers, for example by collecting rainwater and channeling it into an open well.

Communities are trained how to monitor the depth of water in wells and how to keep a record of seasonal fluctuations and long term trends, so that they know if further action is required.

Keeping the environment clean

Where communities lack access to adequate sanitation, water sources, fields and other open spaces can easily become contaminated with human waste, which pollutes the environment and poses grave risks to human health. 

WaterAid promotes the construction of latrines, which offer a designated place for the safe disposal of human waste. We ensure that there is an adequate distance between water sources and latrines and adequate surface water drainage to prevent the buildup of stagnant wastewater.

Recycling waste

The range of sanitation options we promote include technologies that recycle human waste into compost or fuel, both of which provide economic benefits as well as being environmentally friendly. 

Composting latrines

Ecological sanitation (EcoSan) or composting latrines produce a rich, organic fertilizer from human waste. 

Many composting latrines alternate between two pits. Users add soil and ash after each use to help dry the contents, and once the first pit is full, it is covered and left to compost while the second pit is used. Then the first is dug out and the rich compost is used as fertilizer for crops and the process is repeated.

Communal biogas systems
Biogas systems produce fuel from human excreta. This energy is used to power a kitchen stove, light and shower facility for the community.

Growing new plants

The roots of plants can help prevent soil erosion and help the earth to retain rainwater. Many WaterAid projects encourage local communities to grow new plants and trees close to water sources.
Kitchen gardens are also encouraged. As well as offering somewhere for the safe disposal of wastewater, the new fruit and vegetable plants improve communities' nutrition and sometimes offer income-generating opportunities. 

Chilikala Nookaratuam (pictured left) from Andhra Pradesh in India told us about the plants she has been able to grow since WaterAid helped her community to construct a borehole:

“I use my kitchen garden to grow bananas, papayas, brinjal, green leaves, goa, flowers and roses. Papayas and bananas are very good sources of vitamins. I also grow herbs that I can wash my hair with instead of using shampoo.

"There is also a general community kitchen garden where we grow bananas to sell. The money we make from this is put towards the water and sanitation committee fund which pays for things like the maintenance of the borewell.”