Basic Water Needs

Basic Water Needs (BWN) is widely recognized for its impact in developing, producing and distributing water purification and conservation products; creating access to safe drinking water for everyone. Over the last 10 years, BWN has supplied our innovative Dutch-designed Tulip water filters to more than 2,000,000 people worldwide, offering safe and durable drinking water products that are simple to use and last for thousands of liters. 

Selected as one of “Toekomstmakers Top 100” (Future Shapers Top 100) in 2015, BWN is also highly regarded in the design and innovation community for our solutions to HWTS (household water and safe storage). Our products are affordable, streamlined in design, and widely available. BWN works through its own network in many parts of the world making sure that all income groups, including the Bottom and Base of the Pyramid (BoP), have access to safe drinking water products. BWN works together with numerous NGOs, Ministries of Health and many other public and private partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America in the fields of HWTS and WASH. BWN is also involved with most Self Supply programs in Eastern and Southern Africa. 

With its headquarters based in the Netherlands, its production site in Asia, and agents all over the world, BWN meets the needs of its users and stakeholders with a global mindset, in turn making safe drinking water simple, affordable and available. Basic Water Needs’ ultimate goal is to offer safe water in every house for everyone.

Impact of BWN

BWN has reached over 2,000,000 people worldwide with the Tulip products, substantially improving people’s health. By using the Tulip Technology e-coli (99.995%), turbidity (99%), cryptosporidium and other protozoa (99%) are removed, contributing to the prevention of diarrhea, cholera, typhus, giardia and schistosomiasis. Because BWN’s end users consist of people in the BoP, these results will impact the poorest and are part of a larger strategy for fighting poverty.

Health

More than 2,000,000 people with improved health

By using their filters, a family will experience much less diseases, especially children younger than five. The average family in the countries we work consists of 5 people per family. One filter can clean enough water for an entire family every day, making it safe to drink.

Income

More than dollar 10,000,000 increase in disposable income

Compared to other household purification methods or not treating your water at all, an average family will save about dollar 25 a year using the Tulip Technology. The amount of filters we have sold worldwide over the years times the average of dollar 25 money saved is an increase in disposable income of dollar 10,000,000.

Local entrepreneurship

Over 1,000 entrepreneurs selling their filters

Their products are sold all over the world by local partners. In all countries we work with local agents who import the product and spread this within the country. They are in contact with local organizations and entrepreneurs who make a living selling the filters.