




Small Island Developing States such as the British Virgin Islands face a challenge to secure sufficient fresh water supplies due to a limited number of fresh water sources, which are under increasing pressure due to climate change. By harnessing the infinite supply of resources from the sea, sun and earth, Elemental Water Makers developed an off-grid, solar-powered desalination solution that offers a sustainable and affordable drinking water supply for a private property on the British Virgin Islands. Where water quality was previously unreliable and quantity was irregular due to power outages, the property now produces water using 100% renewable energy (gravity and solar power) and adopts energy recovery principles, making it completely self-reliant. This desalination solution has lead to a cost reduction of 63% and prevents production of 25 tons of CO2 per year, all while producing 12.5 m3 of high-quality drinking water per day, both during the day and night time. Moreover, marine pollution is minimized as brine water discharge is only slightly more salty (6%) than the surrounding sea water, thereby mitigating ecological damage.

Fresh water is a prerequisite for sustainable development anywhere across the globe, making it a fundamental challenge that deserves global attention. While certain regions are fortunate to enjoy considerable time before current freshwater resources become scarce, other geographies such as remote coastal regions and SIDS are on the verge of critical levels of freshwater scarcity, limiting viability of livelihoods, let alone sustainable (economic) development. For the population of La Union, Luzon in the Philippines, the above challenges were significantly mitigated due to an innovative, renewables driven, decentralized solar desalination solutions provided by Elemental Water Makers and a local partner. The rural population, previously dependent on unsustainable and expensive ($6/m3) water sources of questionable quality, are now able to access high-quality drinking water at highly market-competitive rate of (1.3$/m3) while also reducing CO2 emission by 43%, equivalent to savings 11 tons of CO2/year. Apart from mitigating the direct pressure on fresh water resources, additional benefits arose out of the fact local populace took ownership of a water kiosk. The water kiosk is a symbol for the newly gained economic and ecological resilience, which was acquired through independent economic exploitation of a water kiosk, offering opportunities related to economic development and consequently that of self-development, especially for women and children. Through close collaboration with a local partner organization, local ownership was fostered, project implementation was done according to local governance and compliances, access to local resources was facilitated and ultimately operation and management remains in hands of the local population. The above impacts have made the water kiosk project a success, provides evidence for the promise and potential of renewable decentralized desalination solutions for remote/rural communities and provides inspiration for future ‘glocal’ partnerships promoting freshwater resources.

Gladden Island is one of the world's most private islands and is situated in the Caribbean. This private get-away implemented an efficient desalination solution based on reverse osmosis. This solution was installed to guarantee a fresh water supply in the dry periods during which the existing desalination and rain catchment systems proved insufficient. By integrating an innovative energy recovery device that re-uses the pressure remaining in the brine effluent of the reverse osmosis process, this fresh water solution produces 5 m3 fresh water per day while using only 17.5 kWh. As a result this water supply mitigates 10 tonnes of CO2/year in comparison to the former water solution.

Already today, two thirds of the world population face water shortages. This means 4 billion people that are affected by the shortage of water. As a result of increasing fresh water scarcity and the limited availability and negative consequences of fossil fuels, Elemental Water Makers was founded in 2012 as a spin-off of the University of Technology Delft in the Netherlands. The company develops solutions to ensure fresh water today without limiting tomorrow by desalinating sea water using solar energy. Elemental Water Makers is determined to solve fresh water scarcity, using only the sea, sun, earth & wind With technological proof, Elemental Water Makers has searched for regions and beneficiaries which could gain most from this solution. Regions relying on desalination with high electricity prices or currently lacking access to sustainable fresh water resources were identified as potential beneficiaries. This boiled down to rural coastal regions and islands, specifically small island developing states (SIDs). Potential end-users of the system are communities, municipalities, resorts and private islands. Elemental Water Makers has successfully designed and installed 10+ fresh water solutions across 7 different countries due to the efforts of its team (3 full time employees). In 2017, the company received the 1st prize of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award, out of 138 organizations active in the field of desalination. Do you know coastal locations that face droughts and water scarcity? Join us in solving fresh water scarcity, using only the sea, sun, earth & wind.

The WASH Club is a youth club in Ghana, Cape Coast to be precise which provides voluntary services in the Water and Sanitation sector to public in the country. The club was started in 2016 and is made up of a team of talented and motivated students who work towards the betterment and the improvement of livelihoods of the populace.

The WASH4Shools project is intended to educate students in the basic schools, Junior and Senior high schools on the proper management of water, good sanitation and hygiene practices. This is to increase their knowledge in WASH and to help prevent WASH-related diseases to promote development. Good hygiene practices is vital to a healthy life style

The Wash and Technologies working group within the water youth network has, for the past 6 months, been focused on capacity building as their main activity. As part of this, the group strives to hold monthly webinars on topics which are of interest to group members. The webinars are open to anyone and are published externally on Water Youth Network communication channels (website, facebook etc).

The Country Water Partnership was established as the partner of Global Water Partnership (GWP) in Armenia. The World Bank, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) established the Global Water Partnership Network still in 1996. Country Water Partnership (CWP) in Armenia was founded in 2005 as a network of interested organization. We are working for accurate the access to information and influence in the public politics. We articulate people working in water organizations or investigations to generate a strong compromise to change the actual way to manage the water.

We are a young professionals alliance and we promote the access to information related with water and work to success the integrated water resources management. We are working for accurate the access to information and influence in the public politics. We articulate people working in water organizations or investigations to generate a strong compromise to change the actual way to manage the water. Screen reader support enabled.

Our mission is to coordinate the actions of youth and water advocacy in Benin, guarantee the recognition of young people as a key player in the water sector, raise awareness of youth issues related to water, and encourage the capacities of young people to act for water.
Project Categories

Water Quality

Safe & Affordable Drinking Water

Sanitation & Hygiene

Water-Use Efficiency

Integrated Water Resources Management

Protect & Restore Water Related Ecosystems

Expand International Cooperation & Capacity-Building

Disaster Risk Reduction
About

YouKnoW! is a virtual space for collaboration founded on collective wisdom towards today’s water challenges. It’s an online centralized dynamic database where youth-led organizations are able to connect with a vibrant community. Just with the click of a mouse on our interactive world map, you will have access to knowledge from projects aimed at solving water issue & sharing of successful and innovative water practices.
If you want to learn more about YouKnoW! please read our Community Guide.

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PROJECTS

27
ORGANISATIONS

39
USERS
Partners

Here are some of our main partners




Projects

Check out our projects, filter by category and get inspired to submit your own project!
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Lombok floods: living with and managing flood...James cook University2017/01/01Recently startedThis project aims to train local youth to interview various stakeholders involved in flood disasters in East Lombok to understand flood response behavior and...
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Young Peacebuilders for Climate Action (YPCA)ASEAN Peace Project2017/07FinishedThis project aims to strengthen the role of young people in promoting sustainable environmental development in peace-building processes, enhance awareness and develop the potentials...
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Enhancing Women’s Participation in Portable W...Pontianak State of Polytechnic (Polnep2014/09/01FinishedThe role of Indonesia’s women in the management of water resources is very low due to lack of knowledge, skills, education, capital, and health...
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Conscientious and responsible consumption of ...Gaia Pacha Foundation2016/11/01OngoingThis project aims to strengthen conscientious and responsible consumption of resources. It works in the universities of the city to be able to work...
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WASH Map and CampaignIGAF- Indonesian Green Action Forum2016/10/17OngoingEducation of university students to be more aware about the importance of water, sanitation, and hygiene by means of mapping and campaigning.
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Rwanda: Water For AllZam Zam Water2017/06/01CompletedProviding a clean, sustainable water source by constructing a 15,000L underground water tank utilizing rainwater from a rain-catchment system. Furthermore, planting dozens of vegetable...
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Flash flood early warning system for EgyptNile Forecast Center2017/08/01OngoingEgypt is one of the vulnerable countries which is affected by the changing of the climate due to global warming. Various effects including seawater...
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School of FarmersSchool of Farmers2016/01/01OngoingIlliteracy is the curse of any country. If it's sustained in a large part of a country’s population, for example farmers who simultaneously are...
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Multifuctionality of Constructed wetlandsUNU2017/01/01OngoingThis project seeks to develop a methodology for optimal design and criteria of constructed wetlands. By analysing a properly designed and operated constructed wetlands,...
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Point-of-use arsenic removal using sand-based...RISE (Rural International Student Exchange)2014/01/11OngoingRISE is a student-run organization empowering students to rise up and apply their knowledge in solving environmental problems in Rural China. Through the collaboration...
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YouthNet for Climate Justice - Phases 1 to 3Barisal division, Bangladesh2017/06/01CompletedGoal: Develop people oriented early warning system to save lives in affected communities. Such improvements in communication to the key actors in the field...
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Water for LifeCWS2008/01/08CompletedThe CWS Water for Life program has had transformative impacts in East Africa. Water for Life has benefitted 182 communities across the drylands of...
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Réseau Béninois du Parlement Mondial de la Je...(RB/PMJE)2015/01/11CompletedOur mission is to coordinate the actions of youth and water advocacy in Benin, guarantee the recognition of young people as a key player...
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Red Agua ECRed Agua ECN/AOngoingWe are a young professionals alliance and we promote the access to information related with water and work to success the integrated water resources...
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Elemental Water MakersElemental Water Makers2012OngoingAlready today, two thirds of the world population face water shortages. This means 4 billion people that are affected by the shortage of water....
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Efficient off-grid desalination on the remote...Elemental Water Makers2017/04/01CompletedGladden Island is one of the world's most private islands and is situated in the Caribbean. This private get-away implemented an efficient desalination solution...
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Moving from water scarcity to abundance throu...Elemental Water Makers2017/07/01CompletedFresh water is a prerequisite for sustainable development anywhere across the globe, making it a fundamental challenge that deserves global attention. While certain regions...
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Off-grid desalination using only the sea, sun...Elemental Water Makers2015/02/01CompletedSmall Island Developing States such as the British Virgin Islands face a challenge to secure sufficient fresh water supplies due to a limited number...
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Proyecto Agua SeguraProyecto Agua Segura-OngoingWe have worked on community approaches to survey the vast Argentine territory. Understanding each place, its culture, its language and work in an articulated...
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Interdisciplinary Risk Communication Pressure...Water Youth Network2018/05/17CompletedThe Water Youth Network (WYN) and Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), with support from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), FM...
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Extreme Rainfall Detection System (ERDS)ITHACA2017/06/19OngoingThe Extreme Rainfall Detection System (ERDS), developed and implemented by ITHACA, is a service for the monitoring and forecasting of exceptional rainfall events, with...
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Ekomuro H2O + in peri urban areas of povertyEko Group H2O+2015/01/10OngoingDid you know that by the year 2050 more than 5,000 million people will live in areas with water shortages? And also that 1...
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Lanka Rain Water Harvesting ForumLanka Rain Water Harvesting Forum1997OngoingLanka Rain Water Harvesting Forum was officially launched in 1997 by a small group of interested people from government and non-government institutions. Its vision...
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Enhancing Women’s Participation in Portable W...Pontianak State of Polytechnic (Polnep)2014/09/01CompletedThe objectives of this research are: (1) to improve access on safe and clean drinking water for the rural area, (2) to analyze water...
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Water4changesGlobal Shapers Skopje Hub2020/01/02OngoingInitiative for implementing water and sanitation as a fundamental human right in the Constitution of Macedonia.
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REVOLVING WATER FUND - PART I MORILLOSed Cero2019/02/02CompletedThe project created a revolving fund with the contributions from Fundación Danone and the Deutsch Bank, to finance drilling for water extraction and construct...
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Re-inventing the spirit of community based di...Risk and Resilience Institute (RRI) with Confederation of Risk Reduction Professionals (CRRP India)2020/07/24OngoingA community finds its strength in its shared beliefs, traditions, practices, etc. and thus, disregarding it while striving towards disaster resilient sustainable development makes...
Organisations

Check out our organisations, filter by category and get inspired to submit your own organisation!
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Water Youth Network
The Water Youth Network is a global connector in the water sector, made up of a vibrant community of students and young professionals and...
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United Nations University (UNU)
The United Nations University (UNU) is a global think tank and postgraduate teaching organisation headquartered in Japan. The mission of the UN University is...
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Nile Forecast Center
The Nile Forecast Center NFC was established as part of the planning Sector of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation in 1992.
The... -
School of Farmers
To give the light of education to farmers so that they can contribute in the agriculture sector to a country’s development and keep pace...
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Zam Zam Water
Zam Zam is a humanitarian organization devoted to playing a vital role in eradicating poverty by providing clean, sustainable water, access to quality education,...
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Red Peruana de Jóvenes por el Água
The vision of the “Red Peruana de Jóvenes por el Água” is to be the leading youth network that promotes Integrated Water Resources Management...
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Parlamento Nacional da Juventude pela Água
The main idea is to engage young people with regard to water resources, conducting training and actions involving young people.
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YESS (Young Earth System Scientists)
YESS, the Young Earth System Scientists community, unifies international and multidisciplinary early career researchers in a powerful network, providing a voice and leverage for...
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Civil Engineering Program (PEC)
The main objective of the Civil Engineering Program (PEC)/Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro is to develop high level research, graduating masters and doctors...
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Waterlution
For over 14 years, Waterlution’s dedication to promoting water awareness and opportunities for collaboration has been a catalyst in creating sustainable and innovative water...
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RISE (Rural International Student Exchange)
RISE is a student-run organization empowering students to rise up and apply their knowledge in solving environmental problems in Rural China. Through the collaboration...
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Preparing our Home
“Preparing our Home” is a community-based resilience planning program. The program enables Indigenous youth to reach their potential in becoming emergency preparedness leaders in...
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Pontianak State of Polytechnic (Polnep)
Pontianak State of Polytechnic (Polnep) is one of higher education institutions in West Borneo, Indonesia to employ a professional learning system with emphasizes on...
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James Cook University
James Cook University is an educational institution which also engages in research in tropical environments and societies in Australia and in the region.
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SHUKALB
Advocates the collective interests of professionals in the water sector in Albania. Serves as a leading resource for knowledge, professional development, and networking. Invests...
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Church World Service is a faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster.
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A membership based largest youth led organization patronized by Barisal Division commissioner office, Department of Environment & UNICEF Bangladesh office. Considering the vulnerable situation...
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(RB/PMJE)
Our mission is to coordinate the actions of youth and water advocacy in Benin, guarantee the recognition of young people as a key player...
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Red Agua EC
We are a young professionals alliance and we promote the access to information related with water and work to success the integrated water resources...
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Elemental Water Makers
Already today, two thirds of the world population face water shortages. This means 4 billion people that are affected by the shortage of water....
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Proyecto Agua Segura
We have worked on community approaches to survey the vast Argentine territory. Understanding each place, its culture, its language and work in an articulated...
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Eko Group H2O+
Did you know that by the year 2050 more than 5,000 million people will live in areas with water shortages? And also that 1...
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Lanka Rain Water Harvesting Forum
Lanka Rain Water Harvesting Forum was officially launched in 1997 by a small group of interested people from government and non-government institutions. Its vision...
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Rights of Water Campaign
The Rights of water Campaign was launched by Alberto Tiraferri, Associate Professor at Politecnico di Torino (Italy).
The main goal of the Campaign is... -
The NGO Projeto Água emerged 15 years ago with the slogan: “Water the Greatest Good on Earth. Preserve! ” Today its headquarters is at...
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Viva con Agua
VIVA CON AGUA de Sankt Pauli e.V. is a non-profit organization committed to ensuring that all people worldwide have access to clean drinking water....
News

Water Saving Awareness
Spreading water saving tips across Cape Town is tremendously important in times like these! Cape{Town} etc. has produced a Youtube-Video to support people living in Cape Town to save water. Find this interesting and short video here. Why not give him a thumbs up? Do...
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