Clean Water in Luapula, Zambia
Through our collaboration with Plan International Zambia (PIZ) and Plan International Canada, nearly 5,000 Solvatten units have been distributed to rural villages in Zambia since 2023. This provides over 25,000 people with a sustainable solution for clean and warm water. Read more
About the Project
In Zambia, an estimated 4.8 million men, women, and children lack regular access to clean water, and an additional 6.6 million lack access to adequate sanitation facilities.
Luapula Province is one of Zambia’s rural provinces and remains one of the country’s poorest. Forty-two percent of rural households in Luapula rely on water from unprotected dug wells, unprotected springs, and surface water (rivers and streams). Additionally, 77% of rural households consume untreated water, leading to waterborne diseases.
Children are most severely affected by waterborne diseases, contributing to high mortality rates among children under five, school absenteeism, and generally poor health. Women and girls spend significant time collecting firewood for cooking, heating bathwater, and boiling drinking water (which is done by 9% of rural households). This can impact the educational outcomes for school-aged children who must travel long distances to collect firewood, thus missing out on school time or study time.
The distribution of Solvatten water purification units aims to provide residents in Luapula with access to safe and clean water in an environmentally friendly way. The project specifically targeted families within Plan’s sponsorship program who have children under five and school-aged children, particularly households with girls, who fetch water from unprotected water sources.
Results
- 97% use Solvatten regularly
- 93% stored their water in a safe, covered container
- 100% of participants reported a decrease in water-related illnesses in their household
- Local communities have embraced and taken ownership of their Solvatten units
- Halved fuel costs
- 70% of users reported saving time thanks to Solvatten
- 3 hours saved on average per day (up to 5 hours)
- 63% reported improved hygiene
About the Partnership
Plan International’s mission to work for a just world that promotes children’s rights and gender equality for girls aligns well with the challenges surrounding water access in Zambia.
Read more about how we were part of the extensive COSME climate project here
Read more about how we support sponsored families in Machakos, Kenya here
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