Rainwater for Humanity

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More than 80% of the 700,000 people living in the low-land region of Kuttanad in southwestern India lack regular access to clean drinking water. They are dependent on canals often contaminated with fecal matter and agricultural run-off for their daily water requirements, causing over 20,000 cases of diarrhea and other water-borne illnesses per year. Many families also live far from the nearest canals. Women, usually responsible for collecting water, walk up to four hours each day to collect the mere ten liters of water their families need to survive, losing time that could be spent on education or generating income.
In the same day that the typical woman in Kuttanad walks four hours for ten liters of water, a single American will consume on average 570 liters without thinking twice. With water scarcity a worldwide problem, we believe that by starting on a local level we can implement a simple, sustainable and eco-friendly system that will begin to confront global discrepancies. As students fortunate enough to live in a country where we can choose which brand of water to drink, we want to bridge the gap between academics and community development, applying what we learn to a real life setting.
Rainwater for Humanity uses rainwater harvesting to create social change. We have studied previous attempts at rainwater harvesting, both in Kuttanad and other areas worldwide. The greatest challenges have been the varying soil conditions of the region, the cost of skilled labor, and the families’ difficulty in raising necessary capital. To combat these problems, we are designing a series of 3-5 models, each of which will match a soil type present in the region. All structures will be buildable via unskilled labor, significantly reducing construction costs. Finally, we will work with families, particularly women, to create an affordable payment plan.