FREE shipping on orders over $20 (excludes custom orders). 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 curly hair drinks water from a large 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 — Support the Nalgene Water Fund Today
A water bottle on a mossy rock in a stream, labeled “TÓ ÉÍ ÍÍNÁ WATER IS LIFE.”.
Clear Nalgene water bottle on a table with dry ramen noodles and a camping stove nearby, ready for boiling water outdoors.

Can You Put Boiling Water in a Nalgene? Here’s What You Should Know

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
Person wearing a red backpacking pack with a 32 oz wide mouth Nalgene in the side pouch

The Ultimate Backpacking Checklist: Essentials for Every Adventure

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
Woman with a backpack sits on a rocky cliff overlooking a calm lake, holding a water bottle.

The 10 Hiking Essentials & What to Bring on a Day Hike

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)

How to Create a Custom Nalgene Water Bottle

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)

Nalgene Outdoor Introduces Fresh Flow™ Straw Bottle

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
Nalgene hiking group

How a Nalgene Bottle Tossed at Sea Forged Friendships

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
adult hands under running water

Nalgene Outdoor Surpasses $1.2 Million in Water Access Impact

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
Olympics Waterbottle

Built for the Miracle. Back for the Olympics.

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
bright and colorful nalgene bottle in the ice

Nalgene Outdoor Unveils Thrill & Motion: A High-Energy Color Collection

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
Three Nalgene water bottles with scenic outdoor designs: sunset, moonlit night, and winter forest.

Introducing the “Landscape Negatives” Collection

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
Wild Expression Bottles

Nalgene Outdoor Launches Wild Expressions Collaboration with AtomicChild

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
Nalgene Water Fund Appalachia Bottle on a rock

Nalgene Water Fund Heads to Appalachia

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
three Surrealist Bottles

New Surrealist Bottle Collection Merges Dreamlike Art with Sustainable Hydration

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
Two people smiling and holding clear water bottles with blue lids, one labeled "Nalgene" and one "Water Mission".

Nalgene Water Fund Donates $10,000 and Reusable Bottles to Help Restore Safe Water Access After Hurricane Helene

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
A water bottle being filled at an outdoor water fountain, with a hand holding the bottle in place.

Stained Glass Bottles

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
Two people sit at an outdoor info booth with blue tablecloth; crowd and food truck in background.

Flint Community Lab Accelerates Efforts for Residential Water Testing

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
A person filling a clear water bottle from a stream in a sunlit forest.

10 Clean Water Projects We’re Inspired By

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
@anjamoyeli

Built to Last: 17 Wild & Rugged Places Where Your Nalgene Bottle Can Withstand The Forces of Nature

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
A woman in sunglasses drinks from a blue Nalgene bottle outdoors on a sunny day.

Why We Should All Drink More Water

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
Image of a rocky beach with people enjoying the view

Fun Outdoor Activities You Haven’t Tried (Yet)

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
Blue Silo

Staying Hydrated: On Hikes, On Bikes, and With Teeny, Tiny Tykes!

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
A man in a mask fills a tiger-decorated bottle at a water filling station.

Nalgene Water Fund Helps Benton Harbor, MI Students Start School Year with Clean Drinking Water

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
Hiker holding a Nalgene water bottle in front of a mountain lake

Rylee Made It Hers

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
Affiliate Content_1

We Made It Simple… Michelle + Kenya Made It Theirs

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
NWF Featured Image_ Navajo Times

Water is Life. Sharing Navajo Nation with the World.

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
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 ›(opens in a new window)
Sarah Eggplant Purple Water Bottle with Dog

Sarah Made It Hers.

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
Thermofischer scientists in a lab making nalgene bottles

Community Water Lab Opens in Flint, Michigan

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)
Nalgene Water Fund Navajo Bottle

Nalgene Water Fund Pledges Support to Combat Water Crisis on Navajo Nation

Read Now ›(opens in a new window)