Lack of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene contributes significantly to the global burden of disease. To combat unsafe water, there are two broad categories of water systems, centralized and decentralized.
Centralized
Centralized systems provide water delivery and sanitation infrastructure and include a central water treatment facility with safe, piped water usually going directly into households. This reduces the time and burden of water collection but may be expensive.
Decentralized
Decentralized systems are at household or community levels and involve village or point-of-use chemical or solar treatments and safe water storage. These systems provide low-cost solutions and reduce illness. According to research, decentralized water systems have proven incredibly effective in providing clean water to communities.
Even though centralized water systems provide the safest and easiest delivery of water to the masses there has been a move away from centralized systems globally due to factors like financing, infrastructure, location constraints, and ongoing maintenance costs.
This creates additional problems for resource-strapped and marginalized communities worldwide, creating the need for decentralized solutions.
This is why Advance invests in both types of clean water projects.
Advance’s approach to creating new water systems is unique in that it partners with local organizations around the world to create centralized and decentralized water systems that prevent deadly water-borne diseases.
Centralized and decentralized systems both have challenges, as there are still ongoing system upkeep and local ownership needs.
This is why Advance focuses on the long-term and builds sustainability into its programming. Advance trains local partners on how to continue running and repairing water systems after the initial system is built, so clear water can keep flowing to the communities’ Advance serves.
