Fresh water quenches a community’s thirst

As we celebrate World Water Day, find out how CCFC brought clean water to a small hamlet in India

Surangudi, INDIA — Sylvia Earle, marine biologist and author, sums up the value of water best: “No water, no life. No blue, no green,” she said. Sadly, an estimated one-third of our population are expected to suffer from chronic water shortages in 30 years, according to an “Essay on Water Scarcity in India” by Smriti Chand.

Water shortages have been all too common in Surangudi, India, for decades. The hamlet, which is home to approximately 4,000 people, 40 percent of whom are children, couldn’t afford or access safe drinking water. That’s when CCFC stepped in with our partner, People’s Action for Development.

To reduce water shortages during the scorching summer months, a water-harvesting structure was converted into a pond for drinking and a bore well was set up to transfer the water from the pond. The massive tank holds more than 3.6-million litres of water, meeting the needs of the community during the long summer, when more water is necessary.

A small initiative has quenched the thirst of thousands.