Purchases over $20 qualify for FREE shipping. Contiguous US only.

10 Clean Water Projects We’re Inspired By

There are few things more crucial in our lives than clean water. Having access to clean water really isn’t something that’s optional, or that’s just nice to have. It’s a vital necessity that ensures the health and safety of the people who drink it. If you can turn on the tap and fill your Nalgene bottle with crisp, clean water in seconds, then you’re one of the lucky ones. Clean water at your fingertips is a beautiful thing, and despite how much we all need it, not everyone has access to it.

But there’s good news: many people and organizations are taking clean water efforts into their own hands, and are launching water recycling and sustainability projects. The people behind these projects are doing some truly incredible work, and are making real strides when it comes to improving access to clean water.

Let’s dive into the state of clean water today, and some inspiring clean water projects which are making a real difference.

A man with a red beard drinks water from a blue bottle outdoors near a waterfall.

When Clean Water Isn’t Just a Sip Away

Whether you’re a toddler or an Olympic athlete, staying hydrated is absolutely essential to human health. But not everyone in the world has regular access to clean water.

The World Health Organization estimates that while 74% of people in the world use safe drinking water regularly, the rest do not. Research from the WHO also breaks down some of the details: about 2 billion people do not use safely managed water services. This means they might have to travel 30 minutes or more to clean water, or they might drink from unprotected sources, such as springs and lakes.

What exactly happens when we don’t have access to clean drinking water? Unsafe water sources can be riddled with bacteria, can transmit diseases, and can present significant health risks to the people drinking it. The unfortunate truth is that hundreds of thousands of people die every year from illnesses transmitted through unsafe drinking water, including many children.

That’s why clean water projects are absolutely critical. When people, governments, and organizations help create access to clean water, they don’t only offer ease and comfort: they help save lives.

10 Clean Water Projects We Are Inspired By

In the wake of the state of clean water around the globe, many individuals, non-profits, governments, and other types of organizations have risen to the occasion, and have developed their own incredible clean water projects.

Here’s our list of 10 clean water projects that we are inspired by, and a bit about the groups behind them.

@mattandmels
West Basin Municipal Water District

This California municipality secured $3.79 million in funding for two of its water projects. These projects will install thousands of feet of pipeline to help bring recycled water, which is clean and reliable, to area middle schools and a park. These projects will also prevent about 40 million gallons of treated sewer water from being sent into the Pacific Ocean each year.

Charity Water

Charity Water has been on a mission to help provide basic access to clean and safe drinking water since 2006. How exactly do they do that? They partner with local organizations in places across Africa, South America, and Asia to create access to water. These projects include digging new wells, rehabbing pipe systems and taps, and creating new water points.

Maji

Even students are making waves when it comes to clean water projects. Take Martin Leet and Leah Voytovich, for example. These two University of Pennsylvania students won a grant to fund Maji, their nonprofit that helps refugee initiatives in Uganda. Maji has already completed several community initiatives, including the construction of a solar-powered water tank for the Olua I community. Their project also addresses other challenges in Uganda, such as supply chain issues.

Planet Water Foundation

Planet Water Foundation is working hard to bring clean water to those in need. It’s deploying 28 different water systems across the world. Planet Water Foundation’s 28 AquaTower projects will bring clean water across Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Philippines, and Vietnam.

Their technology makes water safe and drinkable by removing bacteria and other contaminants, so people can have clear, delicious clean drinking water. And that’s not all: this project will also provide schools with sanitation infrastructure.

Pure Water Oceanside

This San Diego project is considered a first of its kind in the area, and it will provide 20% of the water supply to the city of Oceanside. It’s a potable water reuse project, which will purify recycled water, in order to supply an abundance of clean water to homes and businesses. 

This $70 million clean water project is tech savvy, and uses processes like ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, and advanced oxidation. Ultimately, it will provide the city of Oceanside with 3-5 million gallons of clean, recycled water per day.

Pure Water for the World

Pure Water for the World is another great organization that partners with “rural and underserved communities,” to create safe water solutions. They don’t just provide clean water, they also have sanitation and hygiene education and training programs. 

Pure Water For The World says it’s reached more than 750,000 people in 200 communities across the world. The best part? They focus on providing children and families with clean water resources, as well as education and other resources.

The Water Project

The Water Project is a non-profit that works exclusively in sub-Saharan Africa, and says they help communities with clean water by providing “training, expertise, and financial support.” They say that this issue affects women, children, and families, and that specifically women and girls can spend hours a day fetching drinking water that is not even safe for drinking.

The Water Project works in 11 African countries including Uganda, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan, to create clean water opportunities.

Water.org

Water.org is a global nonprofit that has made some big strides when it comes to clean water: it says its projects have impacted more than 43 million people in 17 countries with their clean water solutions, by working with local partners.

Their work is done by securing loans for clean water projects, helping with access to financing, and working to influence public policy.

WaterAid

WaterAid is an international non-profit that focuses on global water resources. They don’t just cover clean drinking water, but also access to sanitation and hygiene resources. That includes working toilets, and good sanitation.

In the areas where they work, WaterAid says that people drink natural sources like rivers, which can be full of waste and parasites that spread disease. That’s why WaterAid specifically taps into groundwater, drills wells, and harvests rainwater so people have access to clean water, no matter where they’re located. They also say that around the world, one in four people don’t have access to a decent toilet, which creates hygiene issues.

The Nalgene Water Fund

Not to toot our own horn, but we here at Nalgene Outdoor understand just how important clean drinking water is. That’s why we created the Nalgene Water Fund, a project that supports domestic communities here in the US that are struggling with access to clean water. We do this by partnering with grassroots nonprofits to raise funds and awareness.

How exactly does the Nalgene Water Fund work? We create limited-edition Nalgene bottles that are part of the Nalgene Water Fund, and we ​​will contribute $5 of every purchase of a Nalgene Water Fund Exclusive Bottle to Reverb, Inc.

Plus, the designs of these bottles are pretty incredible. Take our Tó éí iiná” (Water is Life) bottle, created in partnership with Jaden Redhair. This 20-year-old is an accomplished Navajo artist born for the Jemez Clan. Sales from this bottle go towards combating the water crisis facing America’s largest indigenous tribe.

Support the Nalgene Water Fund Today

Your purchase of the Nalgene Water Fund bottle supports domestic communities in need. This year’s bottle supports Navajo Nation.

Shop NWF
A water bottle on a mossy rock in a stream, labeled “TÓ ÉÍ ÍÍNÁ WATER IS LIFE.”.
Three Nalgene water bottles with scenic outdoor designs: sunset, moonlit night, and winter forest.
Simplicity in Art: The “Landscape Negatives” Collection
Read Now ›
A glowing green water bottle decorated with images of sea turtles on a black background.
Light It Up: Meet Glo Wyld, Our New Glow-in-the-Dark Collection
Read Now ›
Wild Expression Bottles
Nalgene Outdoor Launches Wild Expressions Collaboration with AtomicChild
Read Now ›
Nalgene Water Fund Appalachia Bottle on a rock
Nalgene Water Fund Heads to Appalachia
Read Now ›
three Surrealist Bottles
New Surrealist Bottle Collection Merges Dreamlike Art with Sustainable Hydration
Read Now ›
Two smiling people hold clear water bottles labeled “Nalgene” and “Water Mission” in a warehouse setting.
Nalgene Water Fund Donates $10,000 and Reusable Bottles to Help Restore Safe Water Access After Hurricane Helene
Read Now ›
A person fills a water bottle with a colorful design at a public water fountain outdoors.
Read Now ›
A blue water bottle being filled at a public refill station, with its lid hanging to the side.
NALGENE OUTDOOR HITS THE ROAD WITH ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFIT, REVERB
Read Now ›
A hand draws on a map with a pencil beside a green compass and a Nalgene water bottle.
Nalgene Outdoor Celebrates 75 Years with Two Exclusive Designs
Read Now ›
A person in a sunhat takes a photo of a red torii gate over water at sunset.
Nalgene Outdoor Named EF Go Ahead Tours’ Official Water Bottle for Sustainable Travel
Read Now ›
Six colorful water bottles hang from ropes against a geometric, multicolored grid background.
Nalgene Drops New Collection of Eye-Popping, Color Block Water Bottles 
Read Now ›
Three colorful Nalgene bottles with floral designs set against a glowing, fantasy mushroom forest background.
Nalgene Outdoor’s New Limited-Edition Psychedelic Bottles Offer a Fun and Functional Break from Everyday Reality
Read Now ›
White tanker trucks parked on a sunny, dirt lot with tire tracks and equipment visible in the foreground.
Nalgene Water Fund Donates $10K to Dig Deep’s Navajo Water Project on Giving Tuesday
Read Now ›
A man in a black shirt drinks water from a blue bottle outdoors near trees and a stream.
Nalgene Outdoor Introduces Epic Water Filters’ Everywhere Bottle Filter to Its Line Up
Read Now ›
Customized Nalgene water bottle with the name "Tyler" and dog sticker handing from classroom coat hook.
Nalgene’s Best Bottles and Hacks to Keep the Return to School (and Routine) Simple!
Read Now ›
Six colorful Nalgene water bottles, each filled with water, arranged on a light blue and white surface.
Nalgene Outdoor Converts Manufacturing to 50% Certified Recycled Material 
Read Now ›
Six people in colorful outfits, each with a water bottle strapped across their back with a sling.
Nalgene Outdoor’s Iconic Water Bottle Drops in Fashion-Inspired Monochrome Hues
Read Now ›
A child fills a water bottle from an outdoor red faucet on a sunny day.
Nalgene Water Fund Introduces Second Bottle to Support the Navajo Nation
Read Now ›
A clear water bottle sits on top of a round bush with small yellow flowers, on dry, rocky ground.
A Sit Down with Diné  Designer Jaden Redhair
Read Now ›
A person fills white and blue buckets with water from a hose, near a large water truck on a sunny day.
Nalgene Water Fund Strengthens Commitment to Navajo Nation Water Crisis Through Additional Donations to DigDeep and COPE
Read Now ›
Flint Community Lab Accelerates Efforts for Residential Water Testing
Read Now ›
Person holding a water bottle on a rock in a shallow, sunlit stream surrounded by greenery.
10 Clean Water Projects We’re Inspired By
Read Now ›
@anjamoyeli
Built to Last: 17 Wild & Rugged Places Where Your Nalgene Bottle Can Withstand The Forces of Nature
Read Now ›
A water bottle on a table next to a seated person in rolled-up jeans and yellow sneakers.
Digital Nomad Revolution: How to Become Part of the New Traveling Workforce
Read Now ›
A woman in sunglasses drinks from a blue Nalgene bottle outdoors on a sunny day.
Why We Should All Drink More Water
Read Now ›
Three jars with pasta, cherry tomatoes, and pine nuts on a cutting board with herbs, shallot, and a knife.
7 Times Our Plastic Containers Saved the Day
Read Now ›
Three people sitting on a picnic blanket and holding up their Wide Mouth Nalgene bottles in a "cheers" motion
8 of our Best Selling Wide Mouth Water Bottles
Read Now ›
A water bottle on stacked rocks in the desert, with Monument Valley buttes in the background under a clear sky.
This World Water Day: Make a Ripple in the U.S. Water Crisis By Supporting the Nalgene Water Fund
Read Now ›
Two girls standing in front of the ruins of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece
On the Road: How I Went from Working a Desk Job to Traveling the World
Read Now ›
Image of a rocky beach with people enjoying the view
Fun Outdoor Activities You Haven’t Tried (Yet)
Read Now ›
Two hands hold water bottles up in front of a city skyline and lush green trees under a clear blue sky.
Custom Water Bottles That Make Everyone Smile
Read Now ›
A cyclist with a red helmet rides on a forest trail at sunset.
Where the Wildflowers Are: Cycling Tips for the New Bike Rider
Read Now ›
Three colorful Nalgene water bottles sit on a log in front of a waterfall and rocks.
Thirsty? Take a Sip! Where Does Water Come From?
Read Now ›
Blue Silo
Staying Hydrated: On Hikes, On Bikes, and With Teeny, Tiny Tykes!
Read Now ›
Person writing in a notebook at a desk with a plant, water bottle, and pens nearby.
The Most Inspiring Recycled Materials Projects Designed This Year
Read Now ›
Nalgene Water Fund Helps Benton Harbor, MI Students Start School Year with Clean Drinking Water
Read Now ›
Cardboard boxes labeled "nalgene" move on a conveyor belt in a warehouse; worker in background.
The Environmental Benefits of Buying Water Bottles Made in the USA
Read Now ›
Three teenage girls sit at a table in a cafeteria, talking and smiling with snacks and drinks in front of them.
Back to School Essential
Read Now ›
A Nalgene water bottle rests on a rocky surface beside a flowing waterfall and pool.
Why You Should Care: What BPA Free Means to Your Body and the Environment
Read Now ›
Hiker holding a Nalgene water bottle in front of a mountain lake
Rylee Made It Hers
Read Now ›
The image features a young child, visible from the back, holding a blue Nalgene water bottle. The child is dressed in a bright orange shirt and a black apron, standing at a kitchen counter. The background has a decorative tile wall, enhancing the cozy, domestic setting. The scene captures a moment of the child either preparing to fill up the bottle or having just filled it at the kitchen sink.
How to Clean Your Nalgene Bottles
Read Now ›
Two people wearing masks drink from cups inside a rustic building near a water station and a Clearwater Forest sign.
Dig Deep Donation Announcement
Read Now ›
Affiliate Content_1
We Made It Simple… Michelle + Kenya Made It Theirs
Read Now ›
Two hands at a table with pink water bottles, snacks, photos, and cartoon purple flames in the background.
Nalgene Outdoor and Jill & Ally Partner on Limited Edition “Tell Me Everything” Bottle
Read Now ›
Colorful Nalgene Bottles
This Earth Day: Nalgene Commits to and Celebrates A More Sustainable Future
Read Now ›
NWF Featured Image_ Navajo Times
Water is Life. Sharing Navajo Nation with the World.
Read Now ›
2020_11_16_PB_Nalgene_WaterFundBottle_WakeTopDown_Wide
The U.S. Water Crisis by the Numbers: Help Nalgene Close the Gap this World Water Day
Read Now ›
Sarah Eggplant Purple Water Bottle with Dog
Sarah Made It Hers.
Read Now ›
Thermofischer scientists in a lab making nalgene bottles
Community Water Lab Opens in Flint, Michigan
Read Now ›
Nalgene Water Fund Navajo Bottle
Nalgene Water Fund Pledges Support to Combat Water Crisis on Navajo Nation
Read Now ›