Our Approach
At Living Water International, we have been working towards an end to the global water crisis for more than 17 years, and has directly implemented 5,000 (and counting) water projects. We have developed the most effective dollar-for-dollar model in operation. Our approach—to train, equip, and consult nationals—ensures that the energy and resources contributed by volunteers and donors result in sustainable, participatory water systems that meet the long-term needs of communities.
Train
Living Water International conducts the most comprehensive training in integrated water solutions available to community development volunteers and professionals. LWI trainees have gone on to work with a wide variety of public and private-sector organizations. Participants are prepared to train others, with the goal of seeing national teams meeting the needs of their own people. This happens in each of the 26 (and counting) countries that LWI serves.
Equip
Living Water International provides trained national teams with all the components needed to implement community water solutions. LWI supplies capital outlay and logistic support, growing the national teams to be self-sustaining. Local people are hired and local materials are purchased whenever possible, creating jobs and income to further benefit the community at large.
Consult
Living Water International is committed to making information and expertise available to facilitate water solutions wherever they are needed most. Consultation is a natural outgrowth of training and equipping—and is a practical way that LWI can walk alongside other organizations that wish to include a water component to their work. Efforts are multiplying as LWI acts as a consultant to other organizations desiring to meet the global need for safe, clean water.
PRIORITIES
Community involvement
Living Water International strives to develop a relationship with each community prior to implementing a water solution. Often, a community water committee is formed, or an existing committee is strengthened. LWI is able to learn from the community what water solution will be the most appropriate, practical, and functional for the specific community. The committee may participate in the implementation and is trained in basic maintenance of the new water system—typically a hand pump. This imparts a sense of ownership of the water source to the community.
Appropriate technology
Living Water International has direct experience with most available water technology. Rather than implement a generic solution for every community we serve, we always seek to use technology appropriate to a community’s history, culture, and lifestyle. In most situations, LWI continues to find that hand-pumps are the most suitable, sustainable solutions for rural communities in need of safe, clean water. Parts for repairing these pumps are non-proprietary, and can be found almost anywhere in the world.
Reliable solutions
The reliability of a water solution really speaks to whether appropriate technology is or is not being used. Living Water International does not seek to implement the cheapest solution available. When overall cost becomes the only factor considered, or when sustainability and cost become synonymous, communities are not served. Rather, communities are taught to further rely on water sources that are reliable, but not safe- such as rivers, lakes, and swamps. LWI works at the community level to implement a water solution that is sustainable and dependable.
Maintenance and Sustainability
Living Water International makes every effort to ensure the life-long provision of safe, clean water in each community served. As stated above, LWI teams seek to create and/or strengthen a water committee in each community served. Local people are trained in the care of their own water solutions. Should repair be needed that is beyond the skill-set of the water committee, the LWI team, usually comprised entirely of nationals. can be called upon.
LWI takes this even a step further.
In many areas, such as Liberia, LWI creates national teams dedicated to checking in with communities that have been served with safe, clean water. This provides a safety net to ensure that communities we work with today will continue to have uninterrupted access to safe, clean water for years to come.
Our well and pump repair efforts are not limited to our own wells; training is offered to each of our teams so they will be prepared to repair any well they may come across. Our teams actually repair more wells that were drilled by other organizations than our own. Our goal for 2008 is to repair 1,000 wells, while continuing to grow in our capacity to drill more new wells.
