At a recent UN Climate Change Award event, Grundfos Lifelink received one of six awards in the category: “Information and Communications Technologies” for integrating technology into its approach to supplying a sustainable water supply in Kenya and Uganda.
Grundfos Lifelink is an automated pump system that has been designed to provide remote villages/communities with a guaranteed and continuous access to clean water – for a nominal fee.
The innovative solution allows villages and communities to purchase the scheme and finance it through a local micro-financing partner. Repayments are made by users paying for their water via mobile phones, a certain amount of which is used to pay for ongoing servicing and repair work.
In general, communities will have paid for these systems within five years after which, if they wish, they can choose to continue to pay a small amount to cover service costs. Systems can be viewed over the internet and will automatically send an error message, when required, in the form of a text message to Lifelink’s local service department.
Grundfos believe that this is a sustainable scheme of global significance as it offers a long-term affordable solution that delivers clean water to those who need it most and we are delighted it has gained the UN’s endorsement.