Why Water Purification Is the Missing Link in Global Education

Clean water fuels education. Without it, the system fails – children’s brains, bodies, and ability to learn depend on clean water. And yet, nearly 450 million children globally lack access to safe water in schools. 

For schools, municipalities and NGOs, water purification is a foundation for their systems to deliver. For education systems, access to clean water means schools thrive, absenteeism drops, and learning outcomes improve. 

Let’s break down why water purification must be part of every education investment – and how Chelsea Water helps make that happen.  

The reality: schools without clean water

A joint 2023 report from UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) shows: 

• Only 77% of schools have basic drinking water service 

• 8% have limited water service 

• 15% have no service at all 

• In low-income countries, less than half of schools have basic water service.  

At the current rate, the goal of universal school water access by 2030 won’t be met – unless solutions scale faster.  

What happens without water purification in schools?

Hygiene and disease spread 

When children can’t wash their hands or drink clean water, diseases spread quickly. Diarrhoea, parasitic infections, and other preventable illnesses lead to missed school days and long-term developmental impacts.  

A 2012 academic review found that missing school due to gastrointestinal and respiratory infections – comprising 75% of all school absences – was reduced if a school had clean water and handwashing facilities. 

Lower school attendance 

Children, especially girls, are often tasked with fetching water for their families. This chore can take hours and prevents them from attending class. But the challenge starts earlier – when there is no potable water at home, children may be too unwell or undernourished to attend school regularly. Without access to clean water for drinking, cooking, and hygiene in the home, their basic wellbeing is compromised. 

In places like rural Mozambique, NGOs are prioritising household-level infrastructure – starting with access to electricity and clean water in homes – before scaling efforts to improve school water systems. Addressing both home and school environments ensures children are healthy and ready to learn.  

Girls are also less likely to attend school due to a lack of menstrual hygiene facilities, including basic water services. 

School attendance suffers when there’s no access to clean water.

Poor focus and performance 

Students who are dehydrated also struggle to focus, lose concentration, and may not participate fully in school activities, affecting their overall performance and retention. On the other hand, when children do have access to clean water, they are more likely to succeed academically and show improved cognitive ability, mood and attention.  

Economic and workforce impacts 

Water shortages and poor hygiene contribute to a cycle of poverty. Parents may lack income opportunities as they deal with recurring illnesses at home, and the region’s inability to foster a well-educated workforce blocks economic growth. Uneducated children can become unemployed adults – without a healthy, educated population, it is harder to build a skilled workforce for tomorrow. 

Water purification builds brighter futures 

According to the World Bank, each additional year of schooling boosts hourly earnings by 9%. Clean water access increases attendance, protects health, and supports academic success. In short: no water, no education. 

Chelsea Water: scalable solutions for schools and communities 

Chelsea Water designs advanced water purification systems tailored for schools, municipalities, and underserved communities. Each system is engineered for low-maintenance, high-output, and ease of deployment – even in resource-constrained areas. 

Custom Containerised water treatment units 

• Modular and mobile: these compact systems can treat 10,000 to 20 million litres of clean water per day 

• Quick to install: minimal setup time means rapid deployment 

• Customisable: adaptable to contamination type, geography, and water source 

• Reliable: produces WHO-standard drinking water 

These units are easy to install and require minimal ongoing maintenance, making them ideal for schools and municipalities where resources may be limited.

Chelsea Water’s Custom Containerised units can be tailored to conditions on the ground. 

Rapidly deployable mobile trailer units 

• Quick response capability: Chelsea Water’s mobile trailer units are built for rapid deployment in emergencies and underserved areas. These systems can begin purifying water within hours of arrival on site. 

• Flexible and efficient: The trailer is equipped with a multi-stage purification system that can purify a wide range of water sources, including seawater and brackish water. 

• Designed for resilience: Fully self-contained and with diesel generator and solar power options, the trailer is ideal for rural schools with limited infrastructure, emergencies and temporary setups. 

• Durable and sustainable: This mobile unit provides a fast and reliable solution to get safe, clean water to where it's needed most – supporting communities, schools, and humanitarian efforts. 

Supporting local operation through training, monitoring and partnership 

Chelsea Water works closely with communities to ensure the long-term sustainability of every system we install. Local leaders select their own plant technicians, who then receive hands-on training from our technical team. This ensures that operational expertise is rooted in the community, creating skilled jobs and local capacity. 

Each plant is supported by a remote monitoring and maintenance agreement. Built-in sensors transmit real-time data to our Cape Town hub, where technicians can assess performance, troubleshoot issues, and guide local operators in making adjustments. This proactive, collaborative approach keeps systems running efficiently while putting day-to-day control in the hands of the local team. 

Whether you’re a government agency, donor, NGO, or school board, investing in scalable, solar-powered water purification makes your education efforts stronger and more sustainable. 

Clean water on the move: Chelsea Water’s mobile trailer unit delivers safe drinking water wherever it’s needed, fast.

Let’s solve this together 

Chelsea Water is ready to help you identify the best-fit solution for your school or community. Contact us today to explore custom water purification systems that work, where they’re needed most. 

Together, we can make clean water one less barrier to education.