To begin, there are two basic ways to get hold of available water.

Harvesting Ground Water

Often times, even in arid or semi-arid regions, there are days or brief "seasons" when rain does fall. Collecting this water quickly and efficiently is essential to eliminating water scarcity. Construction of small check dams in gullies or dry stream beds can harvest huge quantities of water for use in the non-rainy periods. The issue is not that there is no water to drink, but rather there is no way to capture and use it.

It may seem simple to us, who have the resources we need, but in situations of extreme poverty, even the limited money needed to construct such a dam is rarely available. You can help! Get involved and help us build these projects soon.

Rooftop Rainwater Collection

This quote from a Ugandan working on a water project sums it up best.

"God must think were crazy. We let the rain fall off our roofs onto our soil, it washes the soil away and flows to the bottom of the hill. We then climb down the hill and carry it back up to drink."

Again, it may seem simple. Just put a barrel at the end of a home's gutters. And it is simple when the resources are available. The efforts we fund help local agencies determine where these kinds of systems will work. Rainwater collection systems consist of an impermeable roof, some simple piping to direct the water and a storage tank. These systems are often quite effective for individual homes, but only in areas where rain is somewhat consistent. These systems are most often combined with rainwater harvesting techniques to meet the total water needs of a community. You can read more here.

You can make a huge difference by providing these systems to those who need it most. Donate to our efforts and give life! Can't give yourself? Then make it your duty to find others who can. Send them here.

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