The Dirt Floor Economy:
Water By Women Builds from the Ground Up
By Kathy Bolger
W
hen Water By Women staff first visited the village in Jinja, Uganda, they were confused by the small dirt mounds outside each house. Sometimes one, sometimes many, with no house seemingly untouched by these soil disturbances. When they learned the story behind the mounds, confusion turned to distress and anger. Distress because each mound was the grave of an infant or toddler, most dead from waterborne illnesses contracted after weaning, an outcome so common the villagers did not name their children unless they survived to three years of age. Anger because humanity has known how to prevent water-borne illness for 175 years, yet globally 2.2 billion people drink water contaminated by feces, and water-borne illness kills over 1,000 children every day (figures from WHO and UNICEF).
Water By Women aims to change those grim statistics with a sustainable, low-cost solution that empowers local women around the globe, tapping into their natural desire to protect their children and extending it to help their communities. Larraine Lauter, the Kentucky-based nun who founded Water By Women, first found her calling in Honduras.
While on one of her many short-term medical mission trips, a colleague remarked, “You know, half the line at the clinic would disappear if these people had access to clean drinking water.” Larraine realized her part-time, after-the-fact approach wasn’t enough. Children were dying around her, everyday, due to dirty water. She needed to commit, and she needed to attack the problem at its source, before the children turned up sick at the clinic. It was time to “Go big or go home” as she put it. Time to “think catalytically.
After testing a variety of models for delivering safe water in a sustainable manner, Larraine had a second realization: “In every corner of the world, no matter the faith or culture or demographics, smart, caring, loving women amount to a colossal, untapped resource for the alleviation of suffering.” Water By Women was born.
Larraine calls her approach “creative disruption.” When she first researched the issue of providing safe water, the global focus was on large-scale
treatment facilities and pipeline projects. While these projects continue to have their place, they often end up producing pristinely clean water that is then channeled into old, crumbling infrastructure where it is once again contaminated. They are also years, even decades, away from reaching remote areas where Water By Women can easily go and make an immediate impact on water safety. Larraine analogizes her approach to cellphones or home solar panels — putting the technology right at the point of use, in the control of the end user.
While on one of her many short-term medical mission trips, a colleague remarked, “You know, half the line at the clinic would disappear if these people had access to clean drinking water.” Larraine realized her part-time, after-the-fact approach wasn’t enough. Children were dying around her, everyday, due to dirty water. She needed to commit, and she needed to attack the problem at its source, before the children turned up sick at the clinic. It was time to “Go big or go home” as she put it. Time to “think catalytically.
After testing a variety of models for delivering safe water in a sustainable manner, Larraine had a second realization: “In every corner of the world, no matter the faith or culture or demographics, smart, caring, loving women amount to a colossal, untapped resource for the alleviation of suffering.” Water By Women was born.
Larraine calls her approach “creative disruption.” When she first researched the issue of providing safe water, the global focus was on large-scale
treatment facilities and pipeline projects. While these projects continue to have their place, they often end up producing pristinely clean water that is then channeled into old, crumbling infrastructure where it is once again contaminated. They are also years, even decades, away from reaching remote areas where Water By Women can easily go and make an immediate impact on water safety. Larraine analogizes her approach to cellphones or home solar panels — putting the technology right at the point of use, in the control of the end user.
Water By Women’s system is simple, which makes it all the more effective. They purchase the
world’s best and most reliable water filter, and train local women to use and maintain it. In exchange for the filter and training, each woman agrees to provide water not just for her family, but also three neighboring families, resulting in an average of 25 people, and up to 125 people, finally having a reliable, safe water supply.
world’s best and most reliable water filter, and train local women to use and maintain it. In exchange for the filter and training, each woman agrees to provide water not just for her family, but also three neighboring families, resulting in an average of 25 people, and up to 125 people, finally having a reliable, safe water supply.
Water By Women aims to change those grim statistics with a sustainable, low-cost solution that empowers local women around the globe, tapping into their natural desire to protect their children and extending it to help their communities. Larraine Lauter, the Kentucky-based nun who founded Water By Women, first found her calling in Honduras.
While on one of her many short-term medical mission trips, a colleague remarked, “You know, half the line at the clinic would disappear if these people had access to clean drinking water.” Larraine realized her part-time, after-the-fact approach wasn’t enough. Children were dying around her, everyday, due to dirty water. She needed to commit, and she needed to attack the problem at its source, before the children turned up sick at the clinic. It was time to “Go big or go home” as she put it. Time to “think catalytically.
After testing a variety of models for delivering safe water in a sustainable manner, Larraine had a second realization: “In every corner of the world, no matter the faith or culture or demographics, smart, caring, loving women amount to a colossal, untapped resource for the alleviation of suffering.” Water By Women was born.
Larraine calls her approach “creative disruption.” When she first researched the issue of providing safe water, the global focus was on large-scale
Larraine calls her approach “creative disruption.” When she first researched the issue of providing safe water, the global focus was on large-scale
treatment facilities and pipeline projects. While these projects continue to have their place, they often end up producing pristinely clean water that is then channeled into old, crumbling infrastructure where it is once again contaminated. They are also years, even decades, away from reaching remote areas where Water By Women can easily go and make an immediate impact on water safety. Larraine analogizes her approach to cellphones or home solar panels — putting the technology right at the point of use, in the control of the end user.
Water By Women’s system is simple, which makes it all the more effective. They purchase the
world’s best and most reliable water filter, and train local women to use and maintain it. In exchange for the filter and training, each woman agrees to provide water not just for her family, but also three neighboring families, resulting in an average of 25 people, and up to 125 people, finally having a reliable, safe water supply.
world’s best and most reliable water filter, and train local women to use and maintain it. In exchange for the filter and training, each woman agrees to provide water not just for her family, but also three neighboring families, resulting in an average of 25 people, and up to 125 people, finally having a reliable, safe water supply.
The training is an essential part of Water By Women’s success. Some organizations distributing filters may have a staffer spend 25 minutes explaining how to use them. As a result, the filters can be poorly maintained and become a source of contaminants themselves, and the filter recipients can lack the knowledge and motivation for long-term sustainable success.
In contrast, Water By Women provides four hours of training, conducted by a social peer of the women. The goal is to instill in these “Water Women” a sense of
In contrast, Water By Women provides four hours of training, conducted by a social peer of the women. The goal is to instill in these “Water Women” a sense of
ownership and investment. Frequently illiterate or with limited education, they learn the basic science of water filtration, disease prevention, and the use and maintenance of their filter, all while singing, dancing, decorating their water storage buckets, and bonding with like-minded women in their community. Often having been valued for nothing more than child-bearing ability, they come to believe that bearing and caring for their children makes them a hero, and they can now be a superhero by helping keep their children and neighbors alive and healthy through a safe water supply.
After extensive due diligence into available filter technologies, and the people and companies behind them, Water By Women teamed up with Florida-based Sawyer Products. In Larraine’s view: “It is a dedicated and ethical partner to work with, its filtration algorithm and membranes are super-advanced, and we leverage this space-age tech with gravity… and, most importantly, a lotta love!” But perhaps the best thing about a Sawyer filter is that there is no time limit on the safe water it can supply. Properly used and maintained, a filter can keep working forever.
The training is an essential part of Water By Women’s success. Some organizations distributing filters may have a staffer spend 25 minutes explaining how to use them. As a result, the filters can be poorly maintained and become a source of contaminants themselves, and the filter recipients can lack the knowledge and motivation for long-term sustainable success.
In contrast, Water By Women provides four hours of training, conducted by a social peer of the women. The goal is to instill in these “Water Women” a sense of
ownership and investment. Frequently illiterate or with limited education, they learn the basic science of water filtration, disease prevention, and the use and maintenance of their filter, all while singing, dancing, decorating their water storage buckets, and bonding with like-minded women in their community. Often having been valued for nothing more than child-bearing ability, they come to believe that bearing and caring for their children makes them a hero, and they can now be a superhero by helping keep their children and neighbors alive and healthy through a safe water supply.
After extensive due diligence into available filter technologies, and the people and companies behind them, Water By Women teamed up with Florida-based Sawyer Products. In Larraine’s view: “It is a dedicated and ethical partner to work with, its filtration algorithm and membranes are super-advanced, and we leverage this space-age tech with gravity… and, most importantly, a lotta love!” But perhaps the best thing about a Sawyer filter is that there is no time limit on the safe water it can supply. Properly used and maintained, a filter can keep working forever.
In contrast, Water By Women provides four hours of training, conducted by a social peer of the women. The goal is to instill in these “Water Women” a sense of
ownership and investment. Frequently illiterate or with limited education, they learn the basic science of water filtration, disease prevention, and the use and maintenance of their filter, all while singing, dancing, decorating their water storage buckets, and bonding with like-minded women in their community. Often having been valued for nothing more than child-bearing ability, they come to believe that bearing and caring for their children makes them a hero, and they can now be a superhero by helping keep their children and neighbors alive and healthy through a safe water supply.
After extensive due diligence into available filter technologies, and the people and companies behind them, Water By Women teamed up with Florida-based Sawyer Products. In Larraine’s view: “It is a dedicated and ethical partner to work with, its filtration algorithm and membranes are super-advanced, and we leverage this space-age tech with gravity… and, most importantly, a lotta love!” But perhaps the best thing about a Sawyer filter is that there is no time limit on the safe water it can supply. Properly used and maintained, a filter can keep working forever.
After its initial success in Honduras, Water By Women has expanded to 45 countries, across widely varying cultures and de - mographics. Success is measured by surveys of the retention rates of the Water Women, as well as tracking health outcomes related to water-borne illness. In Haiti, where there are 130,000 Water Women, a 2022 cholera outbreak revealed stark differences in case rates between areas with large numbers of Water Women and areas the organization had not yet reached.
Larraine also believes the message of Water By Women’s success goes far beyond safe drinking water: “I hope to help in some small way in re-framing and re-jiggering the way the world thinks about the role of women in society and the global economy. By thinking a little less about the glass ceiling in rich countries, important as it is, and a little more about the ‘dirt floor’ under hundreds of millions of smart, caring women in developing countries, we can solve many of the world’s most serious and chronic health problems, and unleash a tidal wave of entrepre - neurship and other value-adding economic activity…and help bend the arc of Justice!”
Larraine also believes the message of Water By Women’s success goes far beyond safe drinking water: “I hope to help in some small way in re-framing and re-jiggering the way the world thinks about the role of women in society and the global economy. By thinking a little less about the glass ceiling in rich countries, important as it is, and a little more about the ‘dirt floor’ under hundreds of millions of smart, caring women in developing countries, we can solve many of the world’s most serious and chronic health problems, and unleash a tidal wave of entrepre - neurship and other value-adding economic activity…and help bend the arc of Justice!”
After its initial success in Honduras, Water By Women has expanded to 45 countries, across widely varying cultures and de - mographics. Success is measured by surveys of the retention rates of the Water Women, as well as tracking health outcomes related to water-borne illness. In Haiti, where there are 130,000 Water Women, a 2022 cholera outbreak revealed stark differences in case rates between areas with large numbers of Water Women and areas the organization had not yet reached.
Larraine also believes the message of Water By Women’s success goes far beyond safe drinking water: “I hope to help in some small way in re-framing and re-jiggering the way the world thinks about the role of women in society and the global economy. By thinking a little less about the glass ceiling in rich countries, important as it is, and a little more about the ‘dirt floor’ under hundreds of
millions of smart, caring women in developing countries, we can solve many of the world’s most serious and chronic health problems, and unleash a tidal wave of entrepre - neurship and other value-adding economic activity…and help bend the arc of Justice!”
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