Access to clean water isn’t just a necessity—it’s a human right.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) make it crystal clear: Goal 6, ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation, is essential for global progress. Yet, for millions around the world, safe water is still out of reach. Because of your support, and our powerful community of humanitarian engineers across the country, Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA) is breaking down those barriers and bringing clean, sustainable water solutions to communities in need.

Clean Water Matters More Than Ever

When was the last time you worried about whether your water would make you sick? The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that contaminated water is a primary channel for deadly diseases like cholera, dysentery, and typhoid. In fact, 1.8 billion people today are exposed to water contaminated with fecal matter—a shocking and urgent reality.

We know that access to clean water transforms everything. It’s the bedrock for personal hygiene, disease prevention, and a life where simple tasks don’t carry the shadow of health risks. Beneficiaries of EWB-USA projects feel this change firsthand.

A resident of Curingue, Ecuador, put it simply when speaking about EWB’s impact on his community: “Our community is cleaner, our kids are healthier, washing clothes is easier. We used to not bathe for weeks at a time. Now sanitation is better because we can bathe more.”

EWB-USA’s On-the-Ground Impact

At EWB-USA, we’re not just ticking boxes—we’re impacting real families. Communities we partner with report an outstanding 4.7 out of 5 satisfaction score for how well our projects meet their needs. And the feedback isn’t just about the numbers; we’re hearing real stories of transformation from our partners.

In the community of Kabingo, comprised of 600 families and approximately 3,000 people, access to clean water has been a persistent challenge. This rural area, in Lwengo District Uganda, includes one secondary school and two elementary schools that collectively serve around 1,300 children, including those from neighboring communities. Kabingo’s primary source of income is agriculture, but residents face long, arduous journeys to water sources, exacerbated by periodic droughts that strain the already limited supply.

EWB-USA’s Greater Cincinnati Professional Chapter with support from Miami University, has stepped in to implement a series of projects aimed at providing year-round potable drinking water for Kabingo, the schools, and eventually the surrounding sub-villages. These efforts include developing sustainable water infrastructure that ensures a consistent and safe water supply, reducing reliance on seasonal ponds and shallow wells that often dry up or yield unsafe water. This initiative not only improves access to clean water but also helps mitigate health hazards by curbing the prevalence of waterborne diseases, empowering the community with better health and stability. Now, “people and students no longer fall sick. They don’t have to walk long distances to get water,” a resident shared. It’s not just about water; it’s about dignity, safety, and the freedom to build a better future.

Beyond Water: A Catalyst for Prosperity

When communities gain access to clean water, the benefits cascade beyond health. Economies bloom, and people reclaim their time and potential. In El Llanito, Nicaragua, families who once paid exorbitant amounts for clean water now spend a fraction of that. “Water used to cost 1200 cordobas per family per month for trucked-in barrels. Now [families] pay 50-100 cordobas per month,” a local resident explained. This financial breathing room means more resources for education, food, and stability.

In Malingua Pamba, Ecuador, our water access project did more than improve health—it unified the community. “The community is more organized and more powerful. We have better education and health. People are more friendly,” shared a resident. That’s what happens when water access goes from a struggle to a given.

Community Engineering Corps: Offering Clean Water Solutions Close to Home

While our efforts through our International Community Program (ICP) often take center stage, EWB-USA’s partnership with Community Engineering Corps (CECorps) is bringing awareness to the fact that the water crisis exists in our own backyard, too. Partnering with the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Water Works Association, we bring engineering solutions to U.S. communities grappling with outdated or non-existent water infrastructure.

In a rural Tennessee community west of Nashville, nearly 500 residents had no choice but to rely on public bathhouses for potable water. Some families spent up to $250 a week on clean water—a staggering burden when the average household income was only $31,000. “We did a lot of education about why safe, clean water is so important, and how to achieve it,” said David Powell, lead engineer for this project. Today, thanks to CECorps’s strategic planning and collaboration with local nonprofits, this community has a clear path forward. It’s not just about engineering—it’s empowerment.

“When I was an engineering student, I helped with some international projects. This CECorps experience shifted my focus,” said volunteer Taylor Brown. “Right here in the U.S., many communities don’t get the support that people might assume. Part of the help communities need is learning that solutions are possible, that there is hope, that big problems really can be fixed.”

How will you answer the call to action?

Access to clean, safe water is our human right—and it’s time to act. Join us in our mission to make clean water a reality for everyone, everywhere. Support EWB-USA’s life-changing projects and become a part of the solution that empowers communities, saves lives, and fuels hope. Every contribution will enable us to say “YES!” to more communities in 2025.

Will you stand with us?

Visit ewb-usa.org/donate to learn more and get involved today.