Clean Water Solutions That Scale

Our grassroots partners work closely with communities to break the cycle of waterborne disease

The Clean Drinking Water challenge

Water is life

Our founder, Roger Cabbage, witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of waterborne illness in developing communities. Determined to find a solution, he searched for a water filter that was reliable, affordable, and truly designed for the realities of life in under-resourced communities. What he found instead was a gap — nothing that met all three criteria and cost less than 5% of a family’s annual income.¹

1. 2002, World Bank, Sourcebook for Poverty Reduction Strategies, https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/156931468138883186/pdf/2980000182131497813.pdf

Locally Rooted Community Health Programs

We know where we succeed — working alongside families

There are a couple of ways to approach water treatment in remote areas — community, family, or individual. Studies demonstrate that the family level is most effective, where behavior change happens, and risks during water transport and storage are reduced through in-home filtration. By equipping families, we quickly lower waterborne illness while advancing long-term health. Through a global network and local partnerships, we deliver affordable point-of-use filters and implement community health programs that build lasting habits, ensuring safe water practices take hold and endure for years. It’s all about real impact and lasting change.

Journal

Featured

Localizing Aid and Empowering Grassroots Leadership in Community Health and Clean Water Programs

At MightyWater, we know that sustainable community health and safe drinking water outcomes depend on more than traditional water charity efforts. True change comes when communities lead their own solutions.

The solution TO Waterborne Illness

Innovation at a glance

In 2018, we set out to develop a water filter kit that was simple, effective, affordable, and built to last. Our unique system uses an oversized, washable hollow fiber membrane that can purify water from virtually any source. It’s easy to assemble, easy to use, and easy to clean. In fact, cleaning it is so simple we gave it a name: Dance to Clean™. Just swirl, dump, and you're done — no tools, no disassembly, no stress.

“In areas where people have few interactions with machinery or computers, I observed a general fear of breaking the filters when they had to backwash-clean them, which resulted in the filters getting clogged and no longer working. Filters ... have the filter threads exposed, which made cleaning as easy as swishing water around. The result ... was fewer errors found during our monitoring visits, more water filtered, and more healthy children proudly displaying their remarkable rural strength in daily soccer matches.”

— Brian Landever, Director CONAPAC

Mighty Water × Safi Gravity Filter

2.5¢ per family daily

Our gravity water filters were designed and developed in collaboration with Safi to provide a simple, effective, and affordable water filter for the most remote communities worldwide.

Safi low-cost point-of-use gravity filter

- Simple assembly
- Fast purification
- Washable filter
- No disassembly
- No backwashing
- Compostable Packaging
- 0.1 micron washable filter
- Blocks 99.999% bacteria/protozoa
- 3+ year life

Comprehensive CLEAN WATER ProgramS

There is a difference between delivering solutions and developing methods and systems

The solution is more than delivering a ‘fix.’ It is our primary responsibility to listen and take time to deeply understand the community challenges, cultural context, and daily routines to deliver sustainable solutions.

We collaborate with local partners to implement water programs promoting sustainable long-term health. Our commitment to distribution, education, and validation significantly increases the integration of healthy water routines for years to come.

Delivery includes water filter kits, tools, test kits, and instructional guides required to complete the program. Our materials are universal by design to equip workshop leaders with the tools to deliver a consistent training in any language, anywhere in the world.
Workshops build capacity and self-reliance by teaching families how to assemble, use, and clean the water filter systems. Years of research and development resulted in the cleaning method of “Dance to Clean” is fun and memorable everywhere we go.
Every system is registered as an agreement to improve family health. Regular home visits measure project efficacy with a multi-tiered approach of water tests, health surveys, and interviews.

Sandrine, Mother

Rwanda
“This has changed my family’s life and health completely as my kids are no longer suffering from stomach diseases, I am no longer worried about my mother who was ordered to drink water daily and now we always have clean water in our home. Every morning that I wake up and see my family drinking clean water brings hope for a bright future for my family and this keeps a continuous smile on my face.”
Valles Family

Peru
“Before hand we used to go down to the river and drink right from the river. Soon after the stomach was bloated and uncomfortable. Pains in the bladder and pains in the stomach, even nausea. Now my little kids don’t have any stomach pains. So I tell them they should drink lots of water so they can feel strong.”
Clementine, Mother

Rwanda
“The children used to have extended abdomen and the water would make them sick when we fetched it from the tank, but now that no longer happens….We spent money to take them to the health center, now we buy soap and other things…Because it has helped me a lot; I get it and the children are not affected anymore…Neighbors come and get clean drinking water.”
Teacher

Rwanda
“Before we had water filters, children did not like drinking the water. They were thirsty, but they would endure it because they knew it was not safe. Now they drink the filtered water and are happy with it.”
Liberato, Village Leader

Peru
“Maijuna tribe has been drinking untreated river water and contaminated water. Now, we’re drinking with these water filters. Thank you.”
Lot, Father

Peru
“I have one son. I am happy with the water filter. Now we don’t have any stomach pains nor diarrhea. Now we’re all healthy here. Now we feel more relaxed.”
Teacher

Rwanda
“Diseases caused by unsafe water have reduced. When children are healthy, they are present in school, and when they are present, their ability to learn improves.”
Damascene, Community Health Worker

Rwanda
“Now each room at the school has two water filters that purify water along with four cups. The children now drink clean water and intestinal worms have greatly decreased...children no longer frequently complain about abdomen pain.”