What we do

The goal of the Foundation is to enable safe and affordable fresh water on a global scale through projects that provide water using desalination, preferably driven by renewable energy, for people that face water scarcity. With the help of a strong local NGO, we find a community that can benefit access to safe and affordable water to help break the cycle of poverty. As a result, the women and children who are often involved in collecting dirty water from unsafe sources, gain time for education and development. The community benefits from improved health and living standards and the opportunities that this brings.

For each project, we closely work together with the local institutions through the NGO-partner. We establish a project scope, based on the number of people and the available water quality. Once confirmed, the responsibilities for the preparation, installation and operation of the project are defined, together with the NGO-partner. Once the project budget is defined, the Elemental Water Foundation and NGO-partner will start their fundraising activities to be able to fund the project. When 100% funding is obtained, the Foundation will initiate and monitor the execution of the project. Afterwards, the project and its partners are evaluated and potential follow-up will be initiated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, as defined in the Articles of Association of the Foundation, the Foundation does not aim to make any profit. The Board of the Foundation does not get compensated for their efforts. For us, it’s all about making an impact directly.

To overcome water scarcity, different technologies and methods will have to be used in different situations. There are already many NGO’s active in providing water wells and other simple quick fixes. We believe in sustainable and long-term solutions.

By using the unlimited resources of the sea and sun, access to clean water can be realized, without limiting tomorrow. Small-scale solar-powered desalination technology has become advanced enough to be able to provide affordable water and ease of operation. As there is a clear need of all the remote coastal communities that face water scarcity, but no instrument to get this technology to these people, we have chosen this specific area of focus, so we can make a difference.

Please take a look at the section on ‘Who we are’ to find more information on our Board Members.

The donation will go to enable safe and affordable water for the people that need it the most. Each project has a description of the scope of the project and the budget required to realize it. Also, the responsibilities for the preparation, installation and operation are described. Once the project is 100% funded, the project will be executed. We believe in transparency and will update our donors about what their contribution have made possible.

We evaluate the region using the following criteria:
– Lack of access to safe drinking water
– Amount of water scarcity in the region
– Availability of seawater of sufficient brackish water
– Stability, safety and political situation
– Availability of experienced and reliable local NGO’s

Madagascar is one of the 10 least developed countries in the world. In this huge island, there are still 11 million people without access to safe water. Less than 15% of the rural areas have access to safe water. Women and children often spend up to 3 hours per day collecting dirty water from unsafe sources. One of the Board Members, Sid Vollebregt, has been to South-West Madagascar in the past and is eager to help the communities in need there. A strong local NGO with over 20 years of experience in the region is available and a MoU has been signed to determine the responsibilities. These ingredients have resulted in the 1st project in Madagascar.

By carefully selecting the projects and partner NGO’s by the experienced Board, we ensure that we help the ones in need. We only formulate projects in regions where fresh water is scarce and the population is now forced to use unsafe and/or expensive water. These often remote coastal communities need help in breaking the cycle of poverty. We believe access to safe and affordable water is a must for them to do so.

In general, each project goes through the following steps:
– Selection of drinking water project location
– Verification of local situation and insight in current situation
– Search for local partner to overcome local challenges and ensure project uptake and maintenance after installation
– Get to know local partner and formulate a Memory of Understanding
– Confirm project scope and responsibilities, sign MoU
– Determine project budget
– Fundraising activities of EWF and local partner
– Initiate project when 100% funding is obtained
– Check proper project execution and communicate to donors/network
– Evaluate project / partners, potential follow-up project(s)

Using the most efficient and mature desalination technology of reverse osmosis, there is a product flow (fresh water) and brine flow (concentrated water). The brine flow consists of slightly saltier source water. We take into account all environmental regulations with regards to this brine. Fortunately, volumes are quite limited and it’s often just slightly saltier seawater that can be led back to the ocean responsibly.

If your question is not yet answered, feel free to reach out to us using the contact form.

Sustainable

By getting access to water from abundant resources such as the sea, using the unlimited power from the sun, we can ensure a truly sustainable water supply. No more fossil fuels involved to transport water.

Long-term solutions

The projects are there to stay. Using corrosion resistant and easy to use, durable material, the solar desalination project will run for >10 years. The local NGO is trained for daily operation and maintenance and remote monitoring is available for trouble-shooting.

Clean water for Everyone

Without our help, these remote coastal communities are on their own. The desalination technology of reverse osmosis takes out all salts, bacteria and viruses. Using post-treatment of remineralisation, the water will meet the WHO guidelines.

FEATURED CAUSE

Madagascar is one of the 10 least developed countries in the world. Along the coast, there are numerous rural communities that lack access to safe drinking water. These underdeveloped communities rely on groundwater. The quality of the groundwater is brackish and turbid, causing disease as its unfit for consumption. However, these communities have no other option for drinking water. Find out how the Elemental Water Foundation and the local population collaborate to break the cycle of water scarcity by clicking below.

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