Gravity Water is focused on a brand-new, yet simple, solution to the Global Water Crisis.
Why Rain?
Did you know the vast majority of people who don’t have access to safe drinking water around the world live in the Tropics and Sub-tropics? That’s right. The majority of the nearly 2 billion people who don’t have accesses to safe water live in places where fresh water is not only present, it’s overwhelmingly abundant. The problem that most of these countries face is not a lack of access to fresh water, but water pollution and contamination (most commonly from sewage and fecal bacteria), making the water they have unsafe to drink.
The Earth has been filtering water for billions of years through the “water cycle”, turning water on the Earth’s surface and in the ocean’s into fresh rainwater through evaporation and condensation. Unlike groundwater, rainwater isn’t commonly at risk of pollutants until it reaches the ground where contamination occurs; this is why the World Health Organization considers rain an “Improved Drinking Water Source”, opposed to unprotected wells and surface water. Since fecal bacteria from human waste isn’t commonly found on roofs, rainwater harvesting and sterile storage largely prevents contamination from taking place.
Energy-free Storage: Rainwater catchment systems provide water storage above ground level with zero energy requirements for pumping. Almost all groundwater and surface water require energy to raise the water above ground level, which is needed to store water in a tank system that is separated from the environment. Having an elevated water source also allows individuals to access the water solely through the use of gravity, reducing the need for manual or electrical pumping. Since the water is falling into the tank, gravity is the only force required to fill the tank.
Long-term Water Storage: Storing rainwater allows people to utilize rain events to provide a clean water source for extended periods, lasting anywhere from months to whole seasons. Many areas around the world, such as the tropics, undergo year-round to seasonal rainfall patterns. The tropics and sub-tropics make up 85% of the global population that lacks access to clean drinking water. In addition to the tropics, almost all other climates have a period of rainfall throughout the year, except for desert climates, which receive very low precipitation, and commonly rely on deep groundwater or external sources for their water supply. Providing a way to store water for extended periods allows communities access to localized water throughout seasonal change, reducing the threat of physical water scarcity throughout the year.
Increased Adaptive Capacity to Climate Change: According to studies conducted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, “extreme precipitation events over most of the mid-latitude land masses and over wet tropical regions will very likely become more intense and more frequent by the end of this century…”. Extreme precipitation events will increase erosion and surface runoff into water bodies, contributing to water pollution. Relying on surface water as the primary source of drinking water increases the risk of water-related diseases. On the flip side, precipitation events can increase the potential volume of rainwater storage and prevents it from facing the risk of pollution from increased erosion and runoff.
Culturally Assimilative: Many developing countries throughout the world are currently using water tanks for storage, yet this is most commonly used to store groundwater or surface water through pump systems. Unfortunately, many communities don’t practice rainwater catchment on a large basis. This could be for many reasons, including a lack of resources to create a new system or a lack of access to individual rooftops. However, introducing rainwater catchment systems, that are provided for to the communities, will be culturally adaptable for communities using water tanks, since it is only introducing an augmentation in the process instead of a whole new system.
Did you know the vast majority of people who don’t have access to safe drinking water around the world live in the Tropics and Sub-tropics? That’s right. The majority of the nearly 2 billion people who don’t have accesses to safe water live in places where fresh water is not only present, it’s overwhelmingly abundant. The problem that most of these countries face is not a lack of access to fresh water, but water pollution and contamination (most commonly from sewage and fecal bacteria), making the water they have unsafe to drink.
The Earth has been filtering water for billions of years through the “water cycle”, turning water on the Earth’s surface and in the ocean’s into fresh rainwater through evaporation and condensation. Unlike groundwater, rainwater isn’t commonly at risk of pollutants until it reaches the ground where contamination occurs; this is why the World Health Organization considers rain an “Improved Drinking Water Source”, opposed to unprotected wells and surface water. Since fecal bacteria from human waste isn’t commonly found on roofs, rainwater harvesting and sterile storage largely prevents contamination from taking place.
Energy-free Storage: Rainwater catchment systems provide water storage above ground level with zero energy requirements for pumping. Almost all groundwater and surface water require energy to raise the water above ground level, which is needed to store water in a tank system that is separated from the environment. Having an elevated water source also allows individuals to access the water solely through the use of gravity, reducing the need for manual or electrical pumping. Since the water is falling into the tank, gravity is the only force required to fill the tank.
Long-term Water Storage: Storing rainwater allows people to utilize rain events to provide a clean water source for extended periods, lasting anywhere from months to whole seasons. Many areas around the world, such as the tropics, undergo year-round to seasonal rainfall patterns. The tropics and sub-tropics make up 85% of the global population that lacks access to clean drinking water. In addition to the tropics, almost all other climates have a period of rainfall throughout the year, except for desert climates, which receive very low precipitation, and commonly rely on deep groundwater or external sources for their water supply. Providing a way to store water for extended periods allows communities access to localized water throughout seasonal change, reducing the threat of physical water scarcity throughout the year.
Increased Adaptive Capacity to Climate Change: According to studies conducted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, “extreme precipitation events over most of the mid-latitude land masses and over wet tropical regions will very likely become more intense and more frequent by the end of this century…”. Extreme precipitation events will increase erosion and surface runoff into water bodies, contributing to water pollution. Relying on surface water as the primary source of drinking water increases the risk of water-related diseases. On the flip side, precipitation events can increase the potential volume of rainwater storage and prevents it from facing the risk of pollution from increased erosion and runoff.
Culturally Assimilative: Many developing countries throughout the world are currently using water tanks for storage, yet this is most commonly used to store groundwater or surface water through pump systems. Unfortunately, many communities don’t practice rainwater catchment on a large basis. This could be for many reasons, including a lack of resources to create a new system or a lack of access to individual rooftops. However, introducing rainwater catchment systems, that are provided for to the communities, will be culturally adaptable for communities using water tanks, since it is only introducing an augmentation in the process instead of a whole new system.
Rainwater harvesting set up for one Gravity Water's systems at a public school in Kathmandu, Nepal
Using Gravity
One of the greatest challenges that communities in developing countries face in regards to water access is access to a reliable source of electricity. Electricity is used to pump water from a source (river, spring, groundwater, etc...) to where it needs to be used by the community; however, many communities rely on “fetching” water, since pumping and electricity aren't available or reliable. In addition, electricity is usually needed to treat water, through powering sterilization or creating pressure for filtration.
However, there is one free energy source that can be used anywhere on earth, Gravity. Through harvesting rainwater and storing it above ground, Gravity Water systems provide pressure for filtration without the dependency of electricity, which is commonly lacking in rural areas, or pumps, which are commonly the first thing to break in water systems and the reason 6 out of 10 wells are currently inactive in Africa.
Gravity Water systems are the only approach to safe drinking water access that combine treatment and prevention into a single system.
However, there is one free energy source that can be used anywhere on earth, Gravity. Through harvesting rainwater and storing it above ground, Gravity Water systems provide pressure for filtration without the dependency of electricity, which is commonly lacking in rural areas, or pumps, which are commonly the first thing to break in water systems and the reason 6 out of 10 wells are currently inactive in Africa.
Gravity Water systems are the only approach to safe drinking water access that combine treatment and prevention into a single system.
A gravity-fed filtration system, removing sediment, heavy metals, taste, odor, and 99.9999% of bacteria
Creating a Community-Based Model to Scale Impact Globally.
Locally Sourced Materials and Skill Sets
Gravity Water systems are built completely with locally sourced materials that are commonly found in developing countries. These include water tanks, basic filters, plumbing materials, cement, and metal. Using locally sourced materials has many benefits, including local familiarity with the materials, thus increasing connection and understanding by the community, supporting local economies through purchasing locally, and ease for replacement and maintenance if any problems arise with a part of the system.
In addition, Gravity Water systems are built with basic skill sets, such as plumbing and welding, eliminating dependency on foreign/advanced aid to develop the systems. This allows communities to be part of the building process, creating local jobs, empowerment, and ownership within every community.
Gravity Water systems are built completely with locally sourced materials that are commonly found in developing countries. These include water tanks, basic filters, plumbing materials, cement, and metal. Using locally sourced materials has many benefits, including local familiarity with the materials, thus increasing connection and understanding by the community, supporting local economies through purchasing locally, and ease for replacement and maintenance if any problems arise with a part of the system.
In addition, Gravity Water systems are built with basic skill sets, such as plumbing and welding, eliminating dependency on foreign/advanced aid to develop the systems. This allows communities to be part of the building process, creating local jobs, empowerment, and ownership within every community.
A local community member in Indonesia preparing a school roof for gutters.
100% Locally Owned - Gravity Water’s Local Ownership Program
100% Locally Owned - Gravity Water’s Local Ownership Program
Question: With BILLIONS of dollars invested in the Global Water Crisis over the last two decades, why do two billion people still rely on a water source contaminated with feces?
This is an important question we must ask, and Gravity Water strongly believes that clean water solutions MUST be scaled and implemented by local communities and be culturally adoptable, not through foreign aid and foreign technology. To address this, Gravity Water created the Local Ownership Program.
Creating a Scalable and Sustainable Model
Since Gravity Water Systems are built with local materials and skill sets, a unique opportunity arises: foreign technology and personnel don’t need to be there. This is a big deal for a few reasons.
Question: With BILLIONS of dollars invested in the Global Water Crisis over the last two decades, why do two billion people still rely on a water source contaminated with feces?
This is an important question we must ask, and Gravity Water strongly believes that clean water solutions MUST be scaled and implemented by local communities and be culturally adoptable, not through foreign aid and foreign technology. To address this, Gravity Water created the Local Ownership Program.
Creating a Scalable and Sustainable Model
Since Gravity Water Systems are built with local materials and skill sets, a unique opportunity arises: foreign technology and personnel don’t need to be there. This is a big deal for a few reasons.
- Building Trust. When foreign workers come into a community, especially from western areas like the U.S. and Europe, trust and cultural understanding commonly becomes an issue. Removing foreign support allows communities to create leadership roles in managing, maintaining, and growing Gravity Water initiatives within their own country, using their own language and cultural pretext.
- Scalability. Providing local leadership and management roles that are led by nationals of each country Gravity Water works in allows for the initiatives to grow independently of “western” presence on the ground, allowing for greater global expansion and training of leadership positions in other parts of the world. Through creating a local management program, Gravity Water creates local job opportunities and allows the building and installation process to occur year-round and grow within each country.
- Follow-up. With local ownership and management on the ground 24/7, communication with communities and schools where Gravity Water systems are installed is easy and efficient. If a problem arises, the community doesn’t have to wait six months for a team to return; instead, they can call the local plumber or the associated National Director of Gravity Water to assist them with the issue immediately. This ensures that Gravity Water systems are always running and doing the job they are meant to do - provide safe drinking water to schools, every day
Obtaining Safe Water Quality
Starting with Safer Water: Using rainwater, as opposed to surface water or groundwater, provides many benefits. Since Gravity Water’s Clean Water Systems use a manual “flush” technique that diverts the initial rainwater that hits the catchment surface from entering the system, very little sediment ever enters the water system. Using water that is virtually free of sediment reduces the likelihood of bacteria concentrations in the water, since fecal bacteria, which host the majority of the viruses associated with water-related illnesses, commonly bind to sediment during transport. Lower sediment levels also mean a longer lifespan for water filters and overall less maintenance for water tank system. Since the majority of water-related illnesses are associated with human-based fecal contaminations, a high percentage of the sources for the water-related illnesses are eliminated, even before filtration takes place.
Filtration Methodology: The Gravity Water tank system uses a three-tier filtration system. Pre-filtration takes place using a 5-micron carbon block filter to remove particulates, lead, heavy metals, chemicals, and all odor and taste associated with the water that enters the water tank system. After pre-filtration, another 5-micron carbon block filter is used to provide a second-treatment for any remaining macro- and inorganic pollutants. The last filter used is a 0.1-micron hollow-membrane water filter, which is used to remove 99.99999% of all bacteria, such as Salmonella, cholera and E. coli and 99.9999% of all protozoa, such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
Filtration Methodology: The Gravity Water tank system uses a three-tier filtration system. Pre-filtration takes place using a 5-micron carbon block filter to remove particulates, lead, heavy metals, chemicals, and all odor and taste associated with the water that enters the water tank system. After pre-filtration, another 5-micron carbon block filter is used to provide a second-treatment for any remaining macro- and inorganic pollutants. The last filter used is a 0.1-micron hollow-membrane water filter, which is used to remove 99.99999% of all bacteria, such as Salmonella, cholera and E. coli and 99.9999% of all protozoa, such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
A Focus on Schools.
Gravity Water focuses virtually all of our projects at schools for many reasons:
An Overseen Challenge for Access
Children are one of the most at-risk demographics for waterborne disease and water-related illness and death.
Most households have access to an improved drinking water source, through purchasing filtered water or boiling water.
On the other hand, most schools lack access to safe drinking water, since the cost of purchasing or boiling water for hundreds of children per day is often outside the school's capacity.
Therefore, schools pose as one of the highest-risk areas, and one of the only areas, for contracting water-related disease for many children around the world.
Ownership and Management
Working with schools allows Gravity Water systems to serve as a public resource, yet without the challenges of managing a public resource.
Since school administrators and teachers take responsibility for the management and oversight of the system, proper use is implemented and the water system doesn't suffer neglect.
Gravity Water's National Directors maintain constant relationship with the schools, checking in with the managing officials of every system, every month, ensuring Gravity Water systems are operating efficiently and adequately.
Since the teachers and school officials help construct the Gravity Water system and maintain it, they form a connection to the water source, leading to ownership, pride, and care for the resource.
Equality in Access for ALL
Since most of Gravity Water projects are built for schools composed of children from low-income and at-risk communities, the distribution of the resource is provided to all children equally, regardless of race, gender, religion, or socioeconomic background.
An Overseen Challenge for Access
Children are one of the most at-risk demographics for waterborne disease and water-related illness and death.
Most households have access to an improved drinking water source, through purchasing filtered water or boiling water.
On the other hand, most schools lack access to safe drinking water, since the cost of purchasing or boiling water for hundreds of children per day is often outside the school's capacity.
Therefore, schools pose as one of the highest-risk areas, and one of the only areas, for contracting water-related disease for many children around the world.
Ownership and Management
Working with schools allows Gravity Water systems to serve as a public resource, yet without the challenges of managing a public resource.
Since school administrators and teachers take responsibility for the management and oversight of the system, proper use is implemented and the water system doesn't suffer neglect.
Gravity Water's National Directors maintain constant relationship with the schools, checking in with the managing officials of every system, every month, ensuring Gravity Water systems are operating efficiently and adequately.
Since the teachers and school officials help construct the Gravity Water system and maintain it, they form a connection to the water source, leading to ownership, pride, and care for the resource.
Equality in Access for ALL
Since most of Gravity Water projects are built for schools composed of children from low-income and at-risk communities, the distribution of the resource is provided to all children equally, regardless of race, gender, religion, or socioeconomic background.