What does quality water have to do with education?
When we think of education, images of classrooms, teachers, and books come to mind. We rarely consider basic elements such as clean and safe water. However, the relationship between access to quality water and educational performance is deeper and more impactful than one might think.
The role of water in building a healthy school environment
According to data from the Trata Brasil Institute and DATASUS (2022), the country recorded more than 97,000 hospitalizations of children and young people aged 0-19 due to diseases caused by a lack of basic sanitation. The Brazil Sanitation Panel also shows an alarming picture: in all, around 191,000 hospitalizations were caused by problems related to the lack of this essential service.
In addition to the impact on health, the lack of sanitation directly influences the educational and professional trajectory of young people. School dropouts, aggravated by this situation, reduce the chances of access to higher education and limit the training of those entering the job market.
The cognitive impact of contaminated water
Even when children have access to school, the continuous consumption of contaminated water can compromise their cognitive abilities. Studies show that exposure to high levels of heavy metals, such as lead, and microbiological contaminants can affect brain development, resulting in learning deficits and concentration difficulties. Clean water, on the other hand, is synonymous with health and vitality. When students are healthy, they have more energy to engage in school activities and a greater capacity to absorb knowledge.
What we can do for water and education
Investing in access to drinking water and basic sanitation in schools is more than a public health measure; it is a strategy for improving educational levels and promoting sustainable development.
The intersection between water and education reminds us that essential issues such as health, equity, and development are deeply connected. Ensuring access to quality water is fundamental to transforming education and building a fairer, more prosperous future for all.
SDW For All seeks to impact education by developing technologies that transform unsafe water into safe drinking water. Examples of this work include the implementation of the Aquafiltro Plus technology in the Quilombo Quingoma community in the metropolitan region of Salvador and, more recently, the Aquatorre technology in a school in the town of Ipecaetá in Bahia through a partnership with Coca-Cola, which aims to benefit many other municipalities by 2025.
May this data frighten, may these actions inspire, and may we, as a society, recognize this connection and act on solutions that guarantee learning, dignity, and opportunities for the next generations.
Anna Luisa Beserra
Founder, Sustainable Development and Water for All
LinkedIn: Anna Luisa Beserra
SDW: Sustainable Development and Water for All
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