In July of 2023 we celebrated the completion of a multi-year project that brought clean water to every household in the Marshall Islands


The Marshall Islands will be the second developing country in history to reach this achievement as described by UN Sustainability Goal #6. In 2020 Liberia was the first country to reach this goal, made possible by a 5 year distribution of Sawyer filters.

Getting Clean Water Access To An Entire Country!

The Marshall Islands may be small in terms of land mass, but cover a massive area of the pacific ocean about half way between Hawaii and Australia. To say these islands are remote is an understatement. Traveling to these islands is difficult.

water filters
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21 min

A REMOTE, RESILIENT NATION

Boasting vibrant, turquoise waters, the Marshall Islands are a chain of atolls between Hawaii and the Philippines. The nation has been painted as ground-zero for climate change and, with only about 6,000 visitors a year, the second least-visited country on the globe. Safe, drinkable water is the key to ensuring Marshallese culture lives on.

Woman demonstrating how to filter water from Sawyer bucket filters.

Clean Water for All of Marshall Islands

TANGIBLE LIFE CHANGE

Sawyer partners with over 140 organizations in 80 countries to bring clean drinking water solutions to households around the world. Since 2008, we have worked with our partners to perfect locally-led programs training individuals on our filtration systems. Using GIS technology, these trainers will also capture the filter recipients' health and wellness information in a series of follow-ups after initial filter distribution.

5

Years to complete

42,000

Lives
impacted

90%+

Diarrhea reduction

with support from

Sawyer water filters are able to reduce diarrhea by over 90%.

Measurements include:

  • Diarrhea reduction
  • Work and school days recaptured associated with waterborne sickness
  • Purchased water savings and medical savings associated with waterborne sickness
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Hurricane Helene Help. Sawyer filters.

Sawyer helps to disperse filters, insect repellent, and sunscreen to impacted communities.

water filters
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2 min
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Three women holding coconuts standing in ocean water near the beach.

Sawyer x KORA IN OKRANE

Kora in Okrane - meaning “women who rise at dawn” - was founded 17 years ago entirely by volunteers. Since then, KIO has tackled a wide range of community needs from installing smokeless stoves in homes to hosting children’s reading events. 

The project to bring clean water to every single person in the Marshall Islands began 6 years ago by prioritizing the most vulnerable of their community on the outer islands as the first filter recipients. KIO volunteers worked with traditional women leaders to ensure that everyone on the islands understood how to use and maintain the filters, and in July of 2023 the project to secure clean water for every household in the Marshall Islands was officially completed.

Three water droplets white vector icon

Sawyer x KORA IN OKRANE

Kora in Okrane - meaning “women who rise at dawn” - was founded 17 years ago entirely by volunteers. Since then, KIO has tackled a wide range of community needs from installing smokeless stoves in homes to hosting children’s reading events. 

The project to bring clean water to every single person in the Marshall Islands began 6 years ago by prioritizing the most vulnerable of their community on the outer islands as the first filter recipients. KIO volunteers worked with traditional women leaders to ensure that everyone on the islands understood how to use and maintain the filters, and in July of 2023 the project to secure clean water for every household in the Marshall Islands was officially completed.

Three women holding coconuts standing in ocean water near the beach.

PICARIDIN INSECT REPELLENT

Bottle of Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent Spray

Sawyer x KORA IN OKRANE

Kora in Okrane - meaning “women who rise at dawn” - was founded 17 years ago entirely by volunteers. Since then, KIO has tackled a wide range of community needs from installing smokeless stoves in homes to hosting children’s reading events. 

The project to bring clean water to every single person in the Marshall Islands began 6 years ago by prioritizing the most vulnerable of their community on the outer islands as the first filter recipients. KIO volunteers worked with traditional women leaders to ensure that everyone on the islands understood how to use and maintain the filters, and in July of 2023 the project to secure clean water for every household in the Marshall Islands was officially completed.

THE "MIRACLE BUCKET"

The Sawyer Bucket System is the go-to filtration system for remote communities needing access to clean drinking water. All of Sawyers’ clean water work projects feature its high-performance 0.1-micron absolute hollow fiber membrane filter which removes 99.99999% of all bacteria, such as salmonella, cholera, and E. coli, 99.9999% of all protozoa, such as giardia and cryptosporidium, and 100% of microplastics.

Caption:
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Caption: A Head Kibera Elder shares what changes he has seen in the community since clean water became accessible. 
Caption:

The Process 

  1. Assess- The process begins with a door-to-door census for each community and pathogen testing of the local water sources. This ensures that the Sawyer water filter is an appropriate solution for the area.
  2. Distribute- Once the true scope of clean water scarcity and the effectiveness of the Sawyer filter to treat it, a systematic distribution begins. â€Ť
  3. Follow up - The Bucket Ministry team visits every household at least three times to follow up. During these visits the team member ensures the daily maintenance is being performed correctly to achieve its long-term effectiveness.
WATER FILTERS
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4 min
Caption: “In the beginning, drinking this water often made us sick. I am grateful to The Bucket Ministry for providing us with a bucket filter that purifies our water, now we no longer get sick or suffer from diarrhea. Now we filter clean water and we are healthy.”
Caption:

THE "MIRACLE BUCKET"

The Sawyer Bucket System is the go-to filtration system for remote communities needing access to clean drinking water. All of Sawyers’ clean water work projects feature its high-performance 0.1-micron absolute hollow fiber membrane filter which removes 99.99999% of all bacteria, such as salmonella, cholera, and E. coli, 99.9999% of all protozoa, such as giardia and cryptosporidium, and 100% of microplastics.

Photo of a beached boat distributing bucket water filters to people on the beach.

THE "MIRACLE BUCKET"

The Sawyer Bucket System is the go-to filtration system for remote communities needing access to clean drinking water. All of Sawyers’ clean water work projects feature its high-performance 0.1-micron absolute hollow fiber membrane filter which removes 99.99999% of all bacteria, such as salmonella, cholera, and E. coli, 99.9999% of all protozoa, such as giardia and cryptosporidium, and 100% of microplastics.

Three women holding coconuts standing in ocean water near the beach.

PICARIDIN INSECT REPELLENT

Bottle of Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent Spray
Three women holding coconuts standing in ocean water near the beach.

Sawyer x KORA IN OKRANE

Kora in Okrane - meaning “women who rise at dawn” - was founded 17 years ago entirely by volunteers. Since then, KIO has tackled a wide range of community needs from installing smokeless stoves in homes to hosting children’s reading events. 

The project to bring clean water to every single person in the Marshall Islands began 6 years ago by prioritizing the most vulnerable of their community on the outer islands as the first filter recipients. KIO volunteers worked with traditional women leaders to ensure that everyone on the islands understood how to use and maintain the filters, and in July of 2023 the project to secure clean water for every household in the Marshall Islands was officially completed.

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Sawyer's Women-Led Charity Partners that Shine

Sawyer's Women-Led Charity Partners that Shine

Read on to learn more about the incredible organizations that are empowering women all over the globe, one filter at a time.

Sawyer x KORA IN OKRANE

Kora in Okrane - meaning “women who rise at dawn” - was founded 17 years ago entirely by volunteers. Since then, KIO has tackled a wide range of community needs from installing smokeless stoves in homes to hosting children’s reading events. 

The project to bring clean water to every single person in the Marshall Islands began 6 years ago by prioritizing the most vulnerable of their community on the outer islands as the first filter recipients. KIO volunteers worked with traditional women leaders to ensure that everyone on the islands understood how to use and maintain the filters, and in July of 2023 the project to secure clean water for every household in the Marshall Islands was officially completed.