Non-Governmental Organization Rector Cares Foundation, dedicated to providing clean and safe water to unserved and underserved communities in Nigeria since 2018, recently completed a project at Ochicha Community in Imo State using technology to improve access to clean and safe water.
This tech-powered water project was completed in partnership with Grundfos Foundation, under its subsidiary, Poul Due Jensens Fond (PDJF), a Danish commercial foundation with philanthropic priorities in water, research, and inclusion.
The Founder of Rector Cares Foundation, Mr Onyedikachi Erete, emphasized the foundation’s commitment to ending water poverty in Nigeria, “water is not just a necessity; it is the foundation upon which communities thrive. Our mission as an NGO is not just to provide water to deserving communities but to unleash the boundless potential that flows when every person has access to clean, safe, and sustainable water sources. We intend to use viable technology solutions to solve the water crisis and significantly contribute to sustainable water use”.
Clean and safe water is essential for quality health and sustainable ecosystems, yet most rural communities in Nigeria lack this basic amenity. The Ochicha Water Project involved the installation of a solar-powered borehole, a 10-year gravity-flow water supply system, and the Grundfos AQtap, also called Water ATM. The water ATM is designed to provide clean and safe water for 154 homes, one primary school, and one community health centre. The Water ATM is also an excellent tool for promoting local entrepreneurship and sustainable water management. The Grundfos AQtap works like a public vending machine and supports water service operations’ financial viability and accountability through an integrated platform for revenue collection and online management of water kiosks – as users can pay for water using their “water cards”. Powered by solar energy, the Grundfos AQtap is designed to operate efficiently as a low-cost and automated vending machine that stores clean water because it is connected to a water-purifying plant that uses groundwater.
Rector Cares Foundation aims to provide 35 more units of water ATM in Nigeria, thus ensuring that at least one community in each of the 36 states has access to sustainable clean water. This innovation meets the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 6, 3, 7 and 11.
To support Rector Cares Foundation’s water projects in Nigeria, you can get involved by donating or/and volunteering online. Together, we can end water poverty in Nigeria.
