Source Water Update
Since 2019, Team Mills Foundation and Source Water have installed Source hydropanels into various remote communities. Seven vulnerable Indigenous communities throughout Australia, as well as one cultural landmark on the island of Oahu, Hawaii were provided with greater access to clean, high-quality drinking water. This life improving partnership demonstrates a feasible solution to improving one aspect of the health and wellbeing of Indigenous populations in the most remote areas of the world. In this partnership there have been 55,000+ Liters of water produced by 25 panels across eight location sites over project lifetime to date helping over 4,000+ people living within communities provided with access to SOURCE water.
Source Hydropanels are a sustainable water technology that uses the power of the sun to extract an endless volume of clean, reliable drinking water from the air. Source Water is the world's first renewable drinking water system. Source water is clean, safe, and made entirely off-grid, almost anywhere in the world.
NSW Health Minister, Brad Hazzard, visited the Wilcannia site in 2019, praising the technological innovation that had improved the health of residents locally.
In Wilcannia, 6,267 liters of water have been produced to date. Bottled water is heavily prevalent in the town due to water quality issues. During a recent 2021 COVID-19 outbreak, Wilcannia's only grocery store was seen as a hotspot zone due to community congregations. Improving water access at the home and reducing the cost of water is key for the long term viability of the town.
In Oodnadatta, 8,400 liters of water have been produced. Residents of Oodnadatta are regularly advised by SA Water that the water supply is not suitable for drinking or brushing of teeth. This is due to concerns that the water has the potential to contain the parasite naegleria fowleri which, when inhaled, causes a rare but almost always fatal brain infection. Improving water at the School is critical to students and teachers' cost of living and wellbeing.
In Cunnamulla, Source hydropanels have produced over 10,399 liters of water. "This - how to get water to schools - shouldn't even be up for debate” - That was the astonished response to motions put to the Isolated Children's Parents' Association's conference in Cunnamulla last year. This installation has led to other schools across outback Queensland that are regularly impacted by drought being provided with Hydropanels.
Across eight location sites, 25 panels have provided over 55,700+ liters produced to date. An opportunity exists to build further capability at existing sites to serve greater portions of the population.
“The Hydropanels are a huge help at Gingie Village. The
residents use the water all the time. What this offers people is
Hope” - Kelli Randell, Walgett LALC CEO
“I’m 40 years old and drinking SOURCE was the first time I have
experienced clear water from a tap in my home community”
- Local Resident, Blacktank Bore
“With Walgett’s drinking water facing significant contamination
and supply risks, our partnership with SOURCE ensures that
those attending PCYC facilities won’t rely on plastic bottled
water or high-sugar beverages, further improving local health
outcomes”
- Dominic Teakle, CEO of PCYC NSW
You can find out more about source water here.