Stichting Connect International

WHY IT IS SO HARD TO BRING SAFE WATER TO THE POOR - AND SO PROFITABLE TO SELL IT TO THE RICH?

There is much scientific evidence that the purification of contaminated water in the household is very effective in reducing the burden of diarrheal diseases. A recent United Nations University Study concludes: No other single intervention is likely to have a significant impact on global poverty than the provision of safe water.

The great advances made in low-cost solutions, and the remarkable deepening of the health impact of HWT's makes that it is now the time to scale up the spreading of HWT's to poor people. Until now however, there has been little system and scant success in scaling-up strategies.

The attached book provides unique insights – from the varied perspectives of users, disseminators, producers and retailers – into the marketing challenges of HWT's. The technical, social and financial aspects of such systems as solar disinfection (SODIS), different water filters and chemical treatments such as chlorination and flocculation are all examined.

In addressing the main marketing challenges, Marketing Safe Water Systems, discusses the 5 Ps of marketing: Product, Price, Place, Promotion and People. It puts forward a mix of marketing and social marketing strategies which can raise the dissemination of household water treatment systems to the level required for achieving the Millennium Development Goals.