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We will award prizes of US$1,000 each for the most innovating water and sanitation projects in the Americas. Winners will have a chance to present them at the World Water Forum

“You need ideas to wage a war,” goes a popular saying in Spanish. And our region is waging an all-out war against a chronic lack of water, sanitation and solid waste handling.

Access to water and sanitation and its impact on menstrual hygiene distresses women both on Earth and in space

Cars powered by wastewater-treatment byproducts blowing out water steam from their exhaust pipes. Solid waste that is transferred directly from households to the incineration plant through a suction duct. Byproducts from those plants being used to generate electricity and heat, and even to make bricks and build artificial islands. Non-revenue water in the range of only 2% to 3%. Is that a science fiction story plot? No, it’s part of real life, happening right now in Japan.

The "Green Province", or “Provincia Verde” as it is popularly known in Ecuador, is located on the northwestern coast of the country and its beaches are undoubtedly one of its main attractions. In addition to the canton of Esmeraldas and its main city, Esmeraldas, with its important port, the Green Province includes also the canton of Atacames, famous its "coco loco" (typical drink prepared with coconut water), and the canton Rioverde, very appreciated for offering rest, leisure and recreation activities.

Earth has enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed

(Mahatma Gandhi)

Pachamama is a goddess revered by the indigenous people of the Andes. She is also known as the earth/time mother. Mother earth.

The Incas also recognized the Pachamama, as fertility goddess who presided over planting and harvesting, embodied the mountains, and caused earthquakes. She was also an ever-present and independent deity with her own self-sufficient and creative power to sustain life on this earth.

*Por Estrella Peinado, del equipo del FOMIN y Diana Rodriguez, del equipo de @BIDagua.

Si vives en una ciudad en América Latina y el Caribe (ALC), seguramente has visto recicladores informales en las calles y avenidas recuperando materiales reciclables en contenedores o bolsas de basura para luego venderlos o aprovecharlos. La separación y recuperación de residuos reciclables en la región está liderada por estas actividades informales.

Brazilian water company case demonstrates return on investment for natural solutions 

*by Daniel Shemie, Timm Kroeger and Claudio Klemz, The Nature Conservancy

*By Manzoor Qadir, Assistant Director at the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), Canada.

Policies and investments that move from mitigation to prevention make wastewater profitable and safe for public health