That was the first time I was exposed to the reality of just how many people around the world don’t have access to safe drinking water. It is such a critical resource that we take for granted every day. Without water, we couldn’t wash our hands or dispose of waste. In fact, how we have been able to manage through a global pandemic is largely dependent on having access to clean water.

Since then, I have continued to support communities in developing countries. When I moved to the U.S. in 1991, I joined the Wisconsin Committee for Water for People and went on their first trip to Guatemala. Our assignment was to review and determine how to fix an existing water system that had stopped working only a few weeks after being installed. This demonstrated to me that for a community to have a sustainable water system, not only do they need the support to design and install it, but they also need training and funding for long term operation and maintenance.

ArchTam’s Partnership with Water For People

Water For People is a key partner for ArchTam because their mission aligns with our vision: a world where infrastructure creates opportunity for everyone – uplifting communities, improving access and sustaining our planet. Today, I represent our organization in Water For People’s Leadership Council alongside the world’s leading professional engineering firms. ArchTam and our people have partnered with Water For People for more than 11 years, raising over $1 million through direct contributions, fundraising activities and volunteerism.

Water For People’s approach of “Everyone, forever” speaks to the critical sustainability component of water systems for communities in need. They partner with local governments, businesses and individuals where resources matter most to help maintain water systems. You can see their progress here.

ArchTam provides the opportunity to donate to Water For People through a dedicated website as well as through charitable salary deductions in Canada and the US. It is my hope that for today, as we Imagine a Day Without Water, we take a moment to reflect on how having this critical resource enables us to live and give back to communities in need.

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For many, it is hard to understand not having access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Unfortunately, this is a reality for 780 million people in the world today. The statistics are truly frightening:

• 780 million people do not have access to clean water.
• 5 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation.
• Approximately every 20 seconds, a child dies as a result of poor sanitation.
• 152 million work hours per day are spent by women and girls around the world collecting water.

We can help make a difference by donating time and money to organizations such as Water For People that work to provide safe drinking water and sanitation to people in developing countries.

Early in my career, I spent time living in Lesotho and Botswana while working on water projects and truly gained an understanding of the importance of water and sanitation in human health and development.. This experience has stayed with me and, as a result, I try to support water projects in developing countries when I can.

Water For People has been active since the early 1990s, and I was lucky enough to go to Guatemala on one of its first trips. I had an exciting time in Guatemala examining the existing, non-functional water system for three villages, and identifying improvements that were needed to fix the system. In the following years, we installed a new pump and generator and helped to build a concrete storage tank.

During this time, I lived with and shared meals with a hospitable local family and enjoyed their excitement about getting a more consistent water supply. Our trips to view the existing (non-working) facilities were always an event as village leaders joined us with what seemed like all of the kids in the village. And getting caught in a flash flood was just part of the experience.

A young girl looks after her brother in Guatemala.

Since this project, I traveled to Guatemala in 2010 and 2011 to work on different water projects where we designed and helped to construct water tanks and pipelines. In my most recent trip to Guatemala, the leaders in the villages we were supporting set off fireworks to start the project. (I don’t see that much in the U.S.).

Water For People’s “Everyone Forever” approach enables countries worldwide to free themselves from water and sanitation aid dependency by striving to provide every household, school and public health facility or clinic in a defined geography with improved water and sanitations services. This aligns with ArchTam’s mission of social responsibility, which focuses on community focus, collaboration, sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Many ArchTam employees support Water For People through their time and/or financial commitment. In North America, we have established a network of regional and district Water For People advocates who will share opportunities and needs with our staff. Also, our employees are giving more than $110,000 per year to Water For People via direct deduction from their salary. To date, ArchTam and employees have donated more than $640,000 to Water People, and we are hoping to encourage greater participation in 2015.

Richard Hope (Richard.Hope@archtam.com), chief technical officer, water, Americas, and leader of ArchTam’s Water Technical Practice Network, has been with the company since 1991. As the leader of ArchTam’s relationship with Water For People, he is responsible for identifying volunteer opportunities and helping to coordinate fundraising to support Water For People’s mission.
LinkedIn: Richard Hope

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