Climate action through clean drinking waterSierra Leone is a largely rural country where households typically use wood fuel on inefficient three-stone fires to purify their drinking, cleaning, and washing water. This process results in the release of greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion of wood – however, these emissions can be avoided by using efficient borehole technology that does not require fuel to supply clean water.
Our project is helping communities in the Kono region to restore 57 wells. In cooperation with the local population, damaged wells are repaired and regularly maintained, which secures the regional water supply. The availability of clean drinking water eliminates the need to boil water, saving CO2 emissions.
Thus, it not only contributes to climate action but also impacts gender equality. Girls and women are particularly affected by poor water conditions due to the responsibility of household water supply. Providing clean water through boreholes reduces their time spent collecting water and firewood, which can now be used for education or additional income.
How does technology for clean drinking water help fight global warming?Two billion people in the world have no access to clean drinking water. Many families have to boil their drinking water over an open fire, resulting in CO
2 emissions and deforestation. Where water can be cleaned chemically (e.g. with chlorine) or mechanically (with filters), or where groundwater can be provided from wells, these CO
2 emissions can be avoided. Clean drinking water projects in the ClimatePartner portfolio are registered with
international standards.
