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What we do

Environmental management for healthy water supplies

(c) Joseph Muhumuza

Freshwater ecosystems are under pressure worldwide, from pollution, deforestation and climate change, among other things. Yet we depend on them for our drinking water and food, and they protect us from disruptions in the climate.

80%

More than 80% of the waste water is discharged directly into nature.

3x

Wet nature, such as swamps and wetlands, disappears 3x faster than forest areas.

Together with our partners, we protect and restore vulnerable freshwater ecosystems such as source areas, wetlands, rivers and groundwater. This way, we’re not only preserving nature, but also improving the quality of life for communities. 

Without water-rich nature there is no drinking water or (water for) food. Protection and restoration are an urgent matter today, but it is also necessary to keep water available for the future. 

How we operate? We make plans together with local authorities, communities and our partners. We always aim for a good balance between human needs (such as drinking water, water for irrigation, fishing, etc.) and nature conservation.

 

waterhyacinten worden uit rivier gehaald
Invading water hyacinths are removed from the river so that sufficient light and oxygen can enter the water and the river remains navigable. (c) Join For Water

 

What we do?

 

  • Planting trees, their roots retain water in the ground;
  • Replanting wetlands and mangroves, they are natural water purifiers;
  • Ensure source protection zones, for example by demarcating them using trees and shrubs;
  • Waste management, to reduce river pollution;
  • Build small dams and barriers on hills, so that rainwater can penetrate the ground better;
  • Open up overgrown channels, so that oxygen (and life) returns to the water;
  • Protect riverbanks, because some human activity causes damage to riverbanks. As a result, a lot of sediment ends up in rivers, so that the costs of water purification go up;
  • (…)