Pure Water Access Project

06/05/2018

The Earth’s resources are continuously being used up and this is having an impact on our environment. It is said that 70% of the planet’s available fresh water goes towards crops and raising livestock. However, what if there was a way to reduce this consumption and use a source of energy that can be sustainable in many different ways?

Inside an algae farm in New Mexico where experts believe the future of food is underway.

04/08/2018

A little more than 2 inches of rain a year has not limited the residents of Zagora, Morocco, until now. Water shortages from climate change and large-scale commercial agriculture have limited the water in this area to scarcity. This has caused women and children to lack sufficient drinking and bathing water for months.

Residents in this town in Morocco never know when the water will flow, so they leave the outside tap open to fill buckets for daily chores.

03/04/2018

PWAP would like to announce that we are not accepting fellowship applications for the 2018-2019 cycle.

Thank you to everyone who has expressed interest thus far. We truly appreciate the support and enthusiasm!

02/16/2018

A new proposed plan by the US government is causing some mixed views. This plan by the Trump administration implements the idea of reducing the number of permits needed for dumping material into waterways. Although the administration believes it would eliminate the duplication of work, it could cause a bigger problem of increasing bills for drinking water while also dumping more waste throughout municipal water systems.

The Trump administration wants to roll back federal checks and reviews of waterways. But experts say that might put the nation's drinking water at risk.

02/01/2018

While many of us are blessed with abundant sources of clean and safe water, across the world in Cape Town, South Africa, the country is facing some of the driest years in the nation's history. Cape Town's problems embody one of the big dangers of climate change: the growing risk of powerful, recurrent droughts. Yet, this scenario highlights another underlying issue: the limitations of government and city resources to couple water conservation efforts. With rapid shortages of water supply and crumbling water infrastructure, Cape Town faces "Day Zero" - an army-enforced strict, city-wide water shut down straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster.

Complex situations like these are exactly the issues we at The Pure Water Access Project work towards resolving. Not just through rudimentary analysis, but rather through a focus on sustainable solutions rooted in cultural competency and targeted towards the individual community we are working with.

One of Africa’s richest cities is threatening to turn off the taps to its four million residents, cutting off homes and most businesses.

01/16/2018

Imagine a planet where seawater and the sun are the only sources needed for energy. Dan Esposito, a chemical engineer at Columbia University, may have found a way to convert solar energy into an electric current that breaks water into hydrogen and oxygen. This technology could potentially take the place of oilrigs and prevent pollution in water-based system.

Advances in electrolysis technology bring seawater one step closer as the fuel of the future.

01/09/2018

A New York Times story in December introduced a new health buzzword to the masses: raw water, or water that hasn’t been treated, filtered, or processed in any way. While its consumption is not widespread yet throughout the nation, it has spurred discussion about tap water treatment processes and the benefits and or risks associated with the natural substances found in “virgin” water. While treated water was instrumental in improving public health in the United States, untreated water poses a risk of exposing disease outbreaks once again. This article highlights both the pros and cons regarding this issue, and harkens the global benefit that treated water has had on society.

Here's what you need to know

11/14/2017

It’s been nearly six weeks since Hurricane Maria and people are still struggling without a running source of water to bathe and drink with. With the increase of bacterial infection through the contact of contaminated water and the lack of affordable bottled water for those living in the area, these commonalities have become scarce and something that must be addressed quickly.

More than six weeks after Hurricane Maria, a lack of access to clean water is causing public health concerns, including fears over a potentially deadly bacterial disease called leptospirosis.

10/30/2017

“Seventy-one water systems in Michigan now have higher lead levels than the city of Flint, results of the most recent federally-required testing shows.” While the reductions of lead levels in Flint’s water system are a testament to a more optimized level of corrosion control and the continued removal of lead service lines, it also harkens the reality of the presence of pure water crises right here in the United States, which we all need to work towards improving.

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said in a written statement that while "results are promising, we also realize there is still a substantial amount of work that remains to be done."

10/19/2017

“It’s a miracle that God still has a little bit of water for each of us.”
The aftermath of one of the most inclement weather seasons in history has left the people of Puerto Rico struggling for basic necessities like clean water. Nearby, however, a network of plastic pipes jutting out of a mountainside has become a primary source of water for all nearby residents. Both the young and old have found relief for heat exhaustion and toilet sanitation from this one common area.

A mountain spring made into a makeshift water station draws carloads of people to fill up on water that no longer flows from their faucets.

10/12/2017

Following Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico has been ravaged with a clean water shortage, leaving thousands scavenging for water. These conditions have left residents with no choice but to drink from wells at so-called Superfund sites, hazardous waste areas. According to the EPA, Superfund sites are "areas considered highly contaminated by toxins and are subject to special federal oversight." This article discusses the devastation residents of Puerto Rico face in the aftermath of the hurricane, noting the importance of access to clean water as a basic human right for people all around the globe.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is warning Puerto Rico residents not to drink from wells at so-called Superfund sites amid reports that some on the island have sought water from the hazardous waste areas.

10/05/2017

The privilege of water and the ability to monitor and indulge in different sources of fluid intake is quite rare throughout the entire world. This article captures perfectly every single function water serves in our bodies - from hydration to regulating body temperature and lubricating joints. 20% of daily water intake comes from various fruits and vegetables. A lack of clean water means not only do communities not have enough drinking water but these crops, which provide the body with additional water and nutrients, cannot be grown and harvested either.

Dehydration can affect your mood, energy and sleep. Experts recommend between 11 and 16 cups of fluids per day, but the benefits can be lost if you rely on the wrong types.