Firm boosts access to water in schools

Danone Communities, the Company’s investment fund and social business incubator for low-income populations, announces a new investment in the social business Impact Water in Nigeria. With now more than 3 million beneficiaries around the world, Danone Communities accelerates access to safe drinking water for all, thus contributing to the UN’s 6th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).

4 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water*. In this context, Danone Communities announces a new investment in Impact Water Nigeria, a social business whose mission is to deliver safe drinking water, at scale, to schools and universities in Nigeria.

Impact Water has been operating in Uganda for several years, where it has built a strong expertise, and has opened a branch in Nigeria in 2017. 90% of water in Nigeria is contaminated**. The challenge for the health and the future of this country, which is experiencing a very strong demographic growth, is therefore crucial.

Impact Water’s model is to install decentralized water treatment units mainly in schools and universities.

Impact Water Nigeria has developed an innovative model, with water treatment units that are simple to install and to maintain for schools. Impact Water also adapts to the schools’ financial capacities, with adapted equipment pricing and with several payment options. On top of its impact on health, Impact Water Nigeria also has a positive environmental impact: traditionally, schools use wood to boil the untreated water. This is a polluting option and the results on the quality of the water are quite random. With a water treatment unit installed and operated by Impact Water Nigeria, a school doesn’t need to burn wood anymore, thus generating carbon credits.

At the end of 2018, Impact Water Nigeria had equipped more than 5,000 schools and universities, thus impacting positively 1.8 million children.