GreenMoney brings attention to a harsh reality—waking up every day without clean water to drink, cook, or bathe is not just a nightmare for many; it’s daily life.
A Hidden Crisis Affecting Billions
Over 2.2 billion people, or 1 in 4 globally, still lack access to safe drinking water. Even more alarming, 3.5 billion people—nearly half the world’s population—live without proper sanitation like clean toilets or sewer systems. These numbers reveal a global crisis impacting health, dignity, and everyday survival.
Water is essential for everything. It keeps people alive, prevents diseases, and supports education and jobs. And yet, even though access to water and sanitation is a basic human right, millions still wait in long lines at dirty water sources or suffer through waterborne illnesses. Over the years, governments and global organizations have made progress, but climate change is now making the situation harder. Fragile water systems are being destroyed globally by droughts, floods, and rising temperatures.
While governments are trying to fix the problem, something new is also helping—impact investing. This means people and organizations are putting money into companies and projects that aim to make the world better, not just richer. In the case of water and sanitation, it’s making a real difference.
How GreenMoney Brings Clean Water Home
So, how does GreenMoney work for water and sanitation? Let’s break it down.
Think of small communities where many families do not have running water or toilets. Often, they can’t afford the cost of installing water tanks, filters, or even building safe bathrooms. However, if these families could get small loans at fair interest rates, they could improve their homes and health.
That’s where organizations like WaterEquity come in. Since 2016, they have provided more than $360 million to financial institutions in countries that need the most help. These banks and microfinance groups then give loans to families and small businesses. The money goes into buying water tanks, setting up clean toilets, or even launching water service businesses in local areas.
This model is not charity. Families repay the loans over 12 to 24 months, with a very high repayment rate of 97-99%. And most of the people getting these loans, over 93% are women. These women often manage household water needs and take the lead in improving sanitation at home. Restoring authority to communities entails granting them financial access.
There is also a huge opportunity here. Experts estimate that at least 600 million people would benefit if such financing were widely available. That’s a potential market worth $35 billion over the next 10 years. So, investors not only help people—they also get returns on their investment. It’s a win-win.
GreenMoney in Building Climate-Ready Infrastructure
Helping families with water and sanitation is important. But it’s only one part of the solution. Communities also need large-scale water systems that are strong enough to handle today’s extreme weather. Think of it like this: What good is a clean water plant if it gets washed away in a flood? Or a sewage system that fails during a heatwave?
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This is why another focus of impact investing is building climate-resilient infrastructure. It means water systems that can withstand heat, storms, and other climate-related problems. These projects include building new water treatment plants, upgrading old pipes and tanks, and using smart technology to manage water use better.
WaterEquity has launched a Water & Climate Resilience Fund just for this purpose. The fund aims to reach 15 million people with improved water and sanitation services. It will also help even more people by making sure water is cleaner and less scarce.
The fund invests in government-backed projects and in companies that bring new technology to the table. These include sensors that detect leaks, filters that work in rough environments, and systems that reuse wastewater safely. These projects do more than just provide water—they make entire communities stronger and ready to face the future.
In many places, water infrastructure is old, broken, or not built for today’s weather patterns. Smart investments help fix that. And because these investments are done with both purpose and profit in mind, they attract more money than traditional aid.
