India is one of the countries in the world most affected by water scarcity. This is due to seasonal variations in rainfall and a lack of water management in the country. The Composite Water Management Index estimates that around 600 million people are affected by an acute water shortage. Moreover, it is not only the lack of water that is an issue, but also the quality of water. In the years between 2012 and 2017, around 70 million cases of water-related diseases were recorded in India. Diarrhea is one of the main causes of deaths in India, accounting for 60 percent. Due to this, the government initiated the "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan" campaign to improve drinking water quality and make access to clean water affordable for people. Another problem is the occurrence of lung diseases due to inefficient wood burning in the course of water treatment.

 

Helioz launched the "Water & Climate India" project in 2021 together with the two partners from India "Caritas India" and "Ernst & Young" and aims to reach 250,000 people. The project is thus a part of Helioz's global "Water4Climate" initiative. The project aims to provide 365 million liters of purified water per year to 50,000 households, each with five household members. The project is also expected to generate other positive aspects and supports the achievement of nine SDGs targets.

 

With access to clean drinking water, ten percent of household income can be saved each month, as health costs are reduced and, in addition, firewood can be dispensed with. Since the amount of fuel can be reduced, annual CO2 emissions are reduced by 100,000 tons. In addition, up to 80 percent of waterborne diseases can be prevented. The reduction in disease cases leads to an increase in attendance at schools by up to 40 percent and at work by 60 percent. Implementing WADI can thus protect local forests and make a significant contribution to climate mitigation.