Sustainability Solutions

Situation

The quality of water in Rwanda is not safe for human consumption and families must boil it over inefficient wood-fueled fires or by traveling long distances to obtain clean drinking water.

Boreholes offer an excellent solution to this problem; however, communities are often unable to maintain them in the long term.

Solution

The Safe Community Water Supply Project restores and repairs existing boreholes, providing clean drinking water to Rwandan communities without the need to boil it or travel long distances.

Each borehole is up to 100 metres deep, and can be operated with a simple hand pump. The boreholes will be maintained over the project lifetime.

Impact

By providing safe water to communities, this project sparks a chain of positive benefits. Children do not have to spend as much time gathering water or firewood, so they can dedicate time to studying. Family resources are freed up as they don’t have to spend money or time on firewood, instead, they can take part in other income-generating activities, household tasks or taking care of each other. Water-borne and respiratory diseases are reduced thanks to better sanitary conditions and less indoor smoke. The project significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions as well as deforestation pressures on surrounding forests where firewood is sourced.

¹ P&W reserves the right to source carbon offset credits originating from other projects at its entire discretion.

Situation

The water supply in Kenya is not safe for human consumption and is the second leading contributor to the spread of disease with 32% of the population relying on unsanitised water sources, such as ponds, shallow wells, and rivers. Sanitation is particularly problematic in rural areas and urban slums, where people are often unable to connect to piped water infrastructure, forcing most Kenyans to boil water to purify it. However, they often use woody biomass as the main energy source, resulting in the severe loss of humid primary forest in the country.

Solution

The Clean Water Filters Project provides an affordable, long-term and zero emission solution to multiple counties in Kenya through the distribution of filters to households for water purification.

Kenyans can simply pour untreated water into the water purifier, which goes through an 8-step filtration system, removing bacteria and other suspended solids. Treated water is stored in the lower tank, which is easily accessed by turning on the faucet. With a capacity to purify three liters of water per hour, the project technology can provide enough water to meet and exceed the World Health Organization recommended domestic water consumption of 7.5 liters per person per day.

Impact

These filters increase access to safe drinking water and do not require any energy inputs or consumables. Reducing the consumption of woody fuels avoids land degradation, reduces deforestation and prevents greenhouse gas emissions from being released whilst burning biomass. This also promotes the reduction of water-borne diseases and the improvement of health amongst the Kenyan population.

¹ P&W reserves the right to source carbon offset credits originating from other projects at its entire discretion.

Situation

The Rimba Raya peat swamp forests are located in Central Kalimantan province on the island of Borneo in Indonesia. Before the project was established, these immensely biodiverse tropical peatlands were scheduled for conversion into four palm oil estates by the provincial government.

Solution

The Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve Project protects 91,215 hectares of rich, tropical peat swamp forests – monitored by local rangers and satellite and aerial imagery – from planned deforestation for palm oil production.

Impact

The Rimba Raya Project not only preserves ecosystem diversity, protects local wildlife and ensures the safety of several endangered species like the Bornean orangutan, but sequesters carbon and promotes local sustainable development, particularly regarding environmental education and economic capacity building. The project employs 73 field staff personnel, 18 of whom are women, and provides other project-related jobs to another 22 local women. The project further focuses on female capacity building by providing financial support for chicken meat and egg working groups, and for recyclable handicrafts. Project activities also promote community education, with two village libraries built in 2016 and two more planned for construction.

¹ P&W reserves the right to source carbon offset credits originating from other projects at its entire discretion.