The Transformative Power of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

Water is Life: The Transformative Power of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

Posted on March 20, 2025by rotaryservice

By Pat Merryweather-Arges, WASH Rotary Action Group Board Chair 2024-2025 

Students at St. Jude Nantawawula Primary School use water from a handwashing stand provided by a WASH-Rotary Action Group project. The initiative installed rainwater harvesting tanks, water systems, and health training programs at four schools in Bugiri, Uganda. The project was led by Rotary District 9213 (Uganda) and District 7070 (Canada), with support from District 6400 (Canada) and a global grant from The Rotary Foundation.

Water is Life—a common saying among the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Rotary Action Group (WASH-RAG). For us, this isn’t just a saying; it’s a guiding principle. Water is the foundation of life, essential for the survival of humans, plants, and animals. Without it, life simply cannot thrive.

However, water is more than just a necessity. When combined with sanitation and hygiene, it plays a vital role in all of Rotary’s areas of focus.

Why water, sanitation, and hygiene matters

Hand washing with soap is one of the best ways to prevent disease transmission. Many rural communities in low-income countries lack access to soap or do not know how to use it properly. Rotary’s WASH initiatives aim to address this gap. That’s why we call it WASH – Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene together build healthier households and communities. 

Access to clean water and proper hygiene ensure safer childbirth, reducing the risk of infections for newborns and mothers. In healthcare settings, WASH significantly lowers the chances of hospital-acquired infections, benefiting patients undergoing surgery or recovering from accidents.

For education, clean water and sanitation make a tremendous difference. Girls are more likely to stay in school when they have access to hygienic washrooms during their menstrual cycles. Female teachers also experience fewer absences when proper facilities are available.

Beyond personal well-being, water is crucial for economic growth. Many businesses rely on a clean water supply—whether for cooking, baking, or operating hydraulic equipment. In some regions, water shortages due to climate and environmental changes have led to conflicts over this valuable resource.

According to Stew Martin, WASH-RAG Technical Officer, Rotary investments in water, sanitation, and hygiene provide 4 to 10 times the economic return in the communities we serve. Providing WASH in clinics and hospitals saves millions of dollars spent treating avoidable illnesses – over US$120 million in Malawi alone, per the World Bank. 

Transforming communities: stories of impact

The impact of WASH initiatives is tangible and life-changing. Rotary members have countless inspiring stories to share. Here are two examples from South Asia and East Africa that involved a community assessment and detailed plans for the development, implementation, sustainability, and measurable outcomes of these initiatives in the communities.

Upendo Village, Kenya

My Rotary Club of Naperville, United States, collaborated with Sister Florence Muia, founder of Upendo Village, a facility dedicated to support people living with HIV in low-income communities in Naivasha, Kenya, to install a borehole well. I first met Sister Florence through a Rotary staff member, shortly after I joined Rotary in 2002. Since then, we have partnered on an initiative at Upendo Village each year. One of those projects was the installation of a borehole well. What began as a simple water source quickly became a cornerstone of the community:

A kiosk provided clean water for household use.

Irrigation helped grow nourishing food for HIV/AIDS survivors.

Safe water supplied the Upendo medical clinic and dental program.

A micro-enterprise was established, bottling water for sale to businesses, hotels, and restaurants.

Young girls and boys no longer had to walk four miles to fetch water, reducing the risk of violence.

It is important to note that the Upendo village clinics and community centers have running water and toilets. Through the project, a smaller bath house was built for the men to ensure everyone had access to appropriate facilities that respected their privacy and needs.

Duppada, India

Similarly, in Duppada, the community’s vision of a water well and bathhouse with sinks, showers and toilets became a life-changing reality. Before the bathhouse, women were forced to relieve themselves in fields at night, leaving them vulnerable to assaults. Working with Rotarians Prakash Tata and architect Chuck Newman, Rotary Club of Vizianagaram, the community designed a safe and functional bathhouse, significantly improving daily life.

Bathhouse for women of Duppada

I visited Duppada nine years after the installation of the water well and bathouse and found them to be in impeccable shape. Since the installation, the village has transformed:

• Roads have been paved.
• The school has expanded, and more girls are attending classes.
• Dysentery has become a thing of the past.
• Women no longer face the threat of violence.
• Jobs and services have been established within the community.

Empowering Change: Join the WASH Movement

Access to clean water is more than a necessity—it is a catalyst for health, safety, education, and economic prosperity. Rotary members worldwide support WASH initiatives and collaborate with communities to improve access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene for a sustainable future.

You don’t have to be a water expert to bring safe water to a community. The WASH Rotary Action Group provides the resources and support you need. We have over 100 ambassadors worldwide ready to help you start a WASH program or apply for a Rotary Foundation grant to support an eligible program. In addition, over 100 The Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisers are involved in WASH and can provide you with technical assistance.

For more information on how you can bring safe water to your community, please contact one of our WASH Ambassadors or a WASH Cadre. If you will attend the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary , please join us at the WASH Summit on 21 June.

Together, with the strength and knowledge of communities, we can ensure access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene for all, creating a sustainable future where everyone thrives. Visit the WASH Rotary Action Group’s website to learn about the resources we can offer to enhance your projects. 

Editor’s Note: With World Water Day on 22 March just around the corner, we encourage you to reflect on the vital role water plays in our lives. This blog post underscores the transformative power of WASH initiatives. We invite you to learn more, get involved, and support Rotary’s efforts to make clean water and sanitation a reality for everyone.