Now Is The Time
Water is key to the survival of humankind. Water is life. Imagine that over 400 million people across Africa have little or no access to reliable sources of clean drinking water. Imagine again that an even greater number lack sufficient access to water for food production or sanitation.
Centralized water management systems can not solve this problem. We need a radical holistic approach to water management that is decentralized, community centered and combines natural and sustainable technologies.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead
New Water Africa is a social entrepreneurial initiative focused on the development and application of proven water and soil technologies in harmony with nature.
The team is made up of an eclectic mix of inventors, scientists and social and environmental activists. Our commitment is to work to end the tragic legacy of water scarcity on the African continent.
Our Vision
To act with urgency to bring sustainable supplies of pure, safe drinking water to communities in Africa by applying new technologies in harmony with natural water and soil systems. Most importantly, we seek to enable people to live with healthy, productive lives.
Africa’s Old Water Paradigm:
- Africa is the most water stressed region in the world
- Over 300 million people have limited or zero access to safe, clean drinking water
- Over 80% of municipal water treatment and delivery services are stressed or inoperable
- Many consumers spend up to a third of monthly income on drinking water
- 50% of all hospitalizations result from waterborne illnesses
- New outbreaks of cholera and typhoid in 34 African countries
- The lack of safe water and sanitation costs Sub Saharan Africa 5% of its GDP
- A child dies every 20 seconds from a waterborne illness
Agriculture
- Agriculture accounts for more than 80% of water usage in Africa
- Water scarcity translates to a loss of food security
- Many farmers using waste water, resulting in large numbers of people consuming foods that can contain chemicals and disease-causing organisms transferred by the waste water
According to the UN Economic Commission for Africa and NEPAD, ” appropriate water management is key to achieving increased economic development and food security”.
Climate Change
According to the Africa Partnership Forum, “Although Africa is the continent least responsible for climate change, it is particularly vulnerable to the effects. “The long-term impacts including:
- Changing rainfall patterns, worsening water security, decreased fish resources due to rising temperature
- Rising sea levels affecting low-lying coastal areas with large populations
- Irregular pattern of drought and volatile storm systems.
Africa’s New Water Paradigm
- Water scarcity is a myth
- Enough rainwater falls across Africa annually to provide for the needs of 9 billion people
- The atmosphere contains approximately 13 million cubic miles of water vapor, six times the amount of water in all of the rivers worldwide
- Sustainable supplies of clean water can be produced with 100% renewable energy
- Thousands of new jobs, businesses and service opportunities are a byproduct of sustainable water
- Economic,food and social security is a byproduct of sustainable water
Every dollar invested in water and sanitation yields an average of $5-$12 to local communities
Our Focus:
- To empower local entrepreneurs and communities to develop jobs and critical skills development
- Schools: 150,000 across Africa have limited or zero access to tap water facilities
- Health clinics: Over 50,000 clinics across the Continent rely on bottled water
- To help restore water cycles and soil re-hydration through the application of regenerative water management solutions
We have not inherited the world from our forefathers, we have borrowed it from our children
New Water Africa believes that real change can only come when communities see themselves as the primary guardians of their water, soil and energy resources. This requires education, training and economic empowerment
Phase One
New Water Africa will launch our first Community Learning Center in Cape Town South Africa. The center will serve as a demonstration site for our water treatment, harvesting and retention technology.
The center will also be a workshop where people will be trained to manufacture, market and sell the technology locally, creating skills, jobs and sustainable revenue for communities across Africa. Women will make up a majority of the participants.
The real Green Revolution is about water harvesting and retention. Let us catch water where it falls. Let us transform human lives. Let it transform social existence. When this happens the world will be renewed, healed and transformed. – Rajendra Singh
Phase Two
Water Harvesting Retention & Re-hydration Management
Recognizing the absolute urgency of delivering a viable and cost effective means of producing sufficient safe potable water resources to communities across Africa is at the forefront of our mission.
It is abundantly clear that every day counts in reducing the horrific levels of waterborne illnesses and deaths.
However, Africa’s water legacy will not end without instituting sustainable management systems that restore water cycles that rehydrate and heal the soil. Therefore, our commitment is to a multi – disciplined approach which combines cutting edge technology, with the natural self organizing, self healing intelligence of nature itself.
We believe this will best be accomplished through the application of perma-culture’s revolutionary water and soil methodology.
New Water Africa 