By: Jessica Miller

WASH. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene. These are the three fundamentals for a healthy and happy society. Water makes up 70% of the human body; sanitation and hygiene keep that water clean, fresh, and safe to use.

Water is often overlooked in infrastructurally-sound countries as something that is intrinsically needed to keep our bodies running. We have tea, soft drinks, coffee, and a plethora of other drinks to keep us hydrated. Water is readily available to most of us as it is pumped directly into our homes. Therefore, many of us take this readily-available necessity for granted. 

However, this is not the case in the majority world. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 3 people don’t have access to clean drinking water worldwide, amounting to 2.2 billion people not having access to any water, while 4.2 billion don’t have access to sanitation and hygiene systems to make the water they have available drinkable. Water is an underrated and increasingly difficult to procure resource for many people, which is why Business Connect heavily focuses on and contributes to aiding those in water scarce environments.

Women are an imperative part of procuring and using this water. Often, the impact of water scarcity falls unevenly on women and girls. They are typically the ones who walk several miles every day to collect fresh water for their families, they’re the ones who use this water to clean and prepare it, not only for drinking, but for cleaning and washing. The importance of women cannot be understated when it comes to water sanitation. This Women’s History Month, we at Business Connect want to honor women’s role in water sanitation and emphasize ways in which to make this water more accessible for women.

Empowerment Through Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

Water, sanitation, and hygiene come at a price. That price is exemplified in many ways, including time, extensive labor, and risk of violence. Women and girls travel far distances, often on foot, in order to find and allocate clean water back to their communities. This trek is dangerous and becomes even more precarious the longer it is. According to Walk for Water, women and children around the world spend over 200 million hours a year walking to collect water; divided up into an average of 3.7 miles (6 kilometers) a day. However, this danger does not deter these women because it is something that must be done. It is a task of vital importance. They do this because they know there is no other option, they know that this is the only way to access the water their community so desperately needs and these women do this without complaint and, often without recognition. 

This can change. Through WASH strategies, women can be uplifted in their communities. They no longer have to be put on the front lines of the war for water. Water, sanitation, and hygiene products and education can be a way for women to retain water procurement for their communities, while also keeping out of high-risk situations.

The VF100 Home Water Filter

The VF100 Home Filter can greatly help with keeping the process of water and sanitation safe for the women who participate in it. The VF100 Home Filter is a World Health Organization certified water bucket filter. Its 0.1 filter catches a variety of water-borne bacteria, parasites, and protozoan cysts. The filter itself is small, portable, and has a plethora of uses. It can be attached to the inside of a water bucket, barrel, bottle, or any kind of water reserve, as well as directly to a spigot or faucet, and cleans up to 1 Liter of water per minute of use. 

Not only is the VF100 Home Filter easy to use, but it is also extremely durable. The VF100 Home Filter was made with longevity in mind; it can take heavy abuse and still work perfectly fine with the same level of quality that one would expect from a new product. It also comes with maintenance supplies, such as a syringe that helps with backflush cleaning, leading to fresher water for a longer period of time. These daily dangerous treks to and from clean water sources can be reduced with the VF100 Home Filter.

VF100: Frequently Asked Questions

Does the VF100 Home Water Filter require a power source to use?

The VF100 Home Water Filter does not require a power source. Simply attach it to any water basin, spigot, or faucet, and let gravity do the rest. 

How long does the VF100 Home Water Filter last?

The VF100 Home Water Filter was built with the philosophy of longevity. The average lifespan of a well crafted and maintained water filter is about 10-15 years. 

How well does the VF100 Home Water Filter work? 

The VF100 Home Water Filter has a rich history of helping communities in need. Business Connect has been involved with a case study focused on the execution and results of the filter in Honduras through the years 2022-2023. After two weeks of using the VF100 Home Water Filter, adverse symptoms of water contamination were reduced significantly. For example, the percentage of households free of water contamination symptoms jumped from 45.59% to 50.2%. To find out more about the positive effects of VF100 Home Filters, read our case study entitled, Technology Spotlight: VF100 Filters in Action.

Water for Women

According to the Women for Water Fund’s newest research article, “Integrating Risk and Resilience”, climate change adversely affects water security through weather changes, an example of this being flooding and clean water getting polluted through an influx of dirty water that leaks into water sanctuaries during typhoons and hurricanes. The Women for Water Fund is working on bettering water security in WASH fragile areas by implementing risk management strategies and analyzing how to help different areas based on how those areas are affected by climate change. 

To find out more about the Water for Women Fund and their goal of solving global WASH crises through climate resilience and diversity and inclusivity efforts, visit their website. 

Business Connect has a vested interest in this goal and continues to work with vetted organizations to aid in the fight for and improve water security for women in fragile areas in need. One of these organizations is Oxfam, an organization operating out of Nairobi, Kenya with a focus on advocating for economic, social, gender, and climate justice while providing life-saving support to those in crisis across the world, from the highlands of Central America, to the corn fields of Uganda, to the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico. 

To find out more about Oxfam and their global initiatives of aiding in the fight for water security while putting equality for all on the forefront, visit our organizations database. To take active steps in supporting Oxfam and their cause, visit their Donation page.

Coming Soon: Business Connect For Hygiene

This Women’s History Month, Business Connect wants to put the spotlight on women. WASH is upheld and instituted in communities by the women who trek miles upon miles a day to retrieve clean water for their communities and families, just to do the same thing the next day. We want to forefront women’s safety when it comes to water sanitation and hygiene by reducing the risks taken to retrieve clean water. This Women’s History Month, we urge you to take active steps to keep your loved ones and the women in your lives safe by reducing the danger that comes with water sanitation. 

We are also proud to soon be launching Business Connect For Hygiene, a resource for those seeking to broaden hygiene product accessibility and outreach. This online database will serve as a place to explore hygiene and sanitation solutions and connect with likeminded organizations so that we can continue to improve WASH standards together.

To learn more about the VF100 Home Filter and how it emphasizes longevity for water sanitation and hygiene, visit the VF100 Home Filter product page. To learn more about our products and how we aim to center women in our water sanitation and hygiene efforts, visit Business Connect For Hygiene.

Cameron Barnes

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