Rotary members are always looking for practical steps. So, Stew Martin, WASH-RAG’s Technical Advisor /Cadre, worked with the AI tool ChatGPT to come up with this guide to planning and implementing a Solar WASH project.

Working with a Cadre or a WASH Ambassador with experience installing solar energy projects is always a good idea.

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By Elizabeth Henke, ESRAG

https://esrag.org/million-solar-panel/

The Million Solar Panels Challenge encourages every Rotarian to purchase at least one solar panel—whether for themselves or for others. Over 500 Rotary members have already bought and logged their panels. Will you be next?

Who Qualifies?
Any Rotarian who has purchased solar panels for their home or business, or contributed to installing solar panels for others, is invited to participate.

Already Have Solar Panels?

Please log them here: bit.ly/ESRAG_MSPC

Rotarians worldwide have already logged over 50,000 panels—the environmental impact is equivalent to preserving more than 500,000 mature trees!

 

Why Go Solar?
With over 200 Rotary-led solar projects completed worldwide, our community knows firsthand how transformative clean energy can be. Solar power provides affordable clean electricity, uplifting communities with limited or no grid access. A million solar panels over 30 years can prevent over 7 million tonnes of carbon emissions and significantly reduce pollution.

Want to participate but have not yet invested in solar?
Look into buying solar panels for your home or business or participate in a Rotary solar project. As an example, consider adding solar pumps and solar panels to a well ( borehole) so that life-saving clean water can reach more people.

Alternatively, donate a solar panel to your favorite nonprofit who are adding solar in underserved communities or donate to MSPC, and we will do it for you. https://esrag.org/donate/

Why Should You Participate?
Installing solar panels saves money and showcases Rotarians as environmental leaders. However, working together to bring solar energy to underserved communities - that’s truly life-changing.

Join Million Solar Panel Challenge and Make an Impact 
Log your panels at bit.ly/ESRAG_MSPC and join your fellow Rotary members in creating a brighter, sustainable future for all!

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By Elizabeth Henke, ESRAG

As Rotarians, we understand the transformative power of clean water. Rotary has long been at the forefront of providing boreholes, having drilled thousands of wells that save lives by delivering clean and safe drinking water to communities in need. But how can we modify a borehole to extend its reach and improve even more lives?

The answer is simple yet powerful: by adding solar-powered pumps and storage tanks. This innovative solution ensures that water reaches more people: homes, hospitals, and schools. With clean, easily accessible water, communities can thrive—hygiene improves, time is freed for education, and hospitals can operate safely and efficiently.

Harnessing Solar Power for Water Access:
A Game-Changer for Clean Water and Global Health
By Elizabeth Henke, ESRAG

Around the world, millions of people, primarily women and children, spend hours every day fetching water. The numbers are staggering: women and girls spend an estimated 200 million hours daily carrying water, often walking 6 kilometers (about 3.7 miles) just to haul 40 pounds of water for household use. These unproductive hours rob families of time that could be spent on education, work, and the pursuit of a better, more fulfilling life.

As Rotarians, we understand the transformative power of clean water. Rotary has long been at the forefront of providing boreholes, having drilled thousands of wells that save lives by delivering clean and safe drinking water to communities in need. But how can we modify a borehole to extend its reach and improve even more lives?

The answer is simple yet powerful: by adding solar-powered pumps and storage tanks. This innovative solution ensures that water reaches more people: homes, hospitals, and schools. With clean, easily accessible water, communities can thrive—hygiene improves, time is freed for education, and hospitals can operate safely and efficiently.

Solar Pumps and Storage Tanks.

Traditional boreholes have served countless communities, but many rely on manual hand pumps or diesel-powered pumps that are costly, unreliable, and environmentally unsustainable. Solar-powered pumps, on the other hand,  provide a sustainable, very cost-effective, and eco-friendly solution, especially for communities without access to an electrical grid.

When storage tanks are integrated into this system, the impact is multiplied. These tanks can hold several days’ worth of water, ensuring a steady water supply even during loss of grid power, on cloudy days or during the night. Installation of water pipes allows water to flow to the whole community by gravitational flow.

There are approximately 700 million people worldwide who live without access to electricity ( off grid). Solar can be installed in even the most remote regions. For Rotarians, this represents a powerful opportunity to improve the effectiveness of our water projects while advancing our commitment to sustainability.
Real Impact
This concept is not new to Rotary. Take the inspiring examples of Rotarian engineers like Bob Leaper and Phil Wolstenholme, who are already leading the way in harnessing solar technology to bring water to communities in need.

Phil Wolstenholme ( eClub of WASH), working with Engineers Without Borders, FreshWater International and the Dept. of Health in Malawi, has been instrumental in adding solar pumps and storage tanks to new or existing wells to supply healthcare facilities. Designing and supervising systems was only part of Phil’s enormous contribution to this project. He also trained local Malawians through hands-on teaching and wrote manuals to ensure long-term sustainability. His efforts have ensured uninterrupted fresh safe water for health clinics in rural Malawi.

Similarly, Bob Leaper from the Danetre Daventry Rotary Club has made a significant impact in Nepal with the SoL Nepal project. Women were once forced to carry water uphill every day, losing hours of productive time. But with Bob’s expertise, working with Renewable World, a solar-powered water pump was installed to push water 200 meters up the mountain. Together with local villagers, the government, and local engineers, they built a solar pump and tank system where water flows to the entire community through gravity-fed pipes, improving the lives of a whole community.

The Benefits of Solar: Cheaper, Cleaner, and Reliable

Solar pumps offer a host of benefits compared to traditional diesel-powered systems. They are:

Cheaper: Solar power eliminates the cost of fuel. The cost of solar panels has plummeted in the last 10 years. Once installed, the system runs on free energy from the sun, reducing long-term operating costs.

Cleaner: Solar power produces no emissions, making it a green and sustainable choice. This aligns with Rotary’s growing focus on protecting the environment.

More Reliable: Solar pumps are highly reliable and solar panels typically come with a 25-year guarantee. The technology is simple, durable, and capable of providing water day after day with minimal maintenance.

A Rotary Call to Action
Rotarians have a tremendous opportunity to transform access to water for communities worldwide. By incorporating solar-powered pumps and storage tanks into our projects, we can extend the life-saving benefits of boreholes and ensure that clean, accessible water reaches everyone—no matter how remote or disadvantaged the community may be.

This is more than just providing water; it’s about giving time back to women and children, improving public health and hygiene, enabling schools and hospitals to function effectively, and empowering entire communities to thrive.

Let’s work together to add solar pumps and tanks to all Rotary-funded wells around the world and ensure that every future borehole is equipped with solar power. Together, we can harness the power of the sun to guarantee that every community has access to clean, safe water for years to come.

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Forming a District WASH Committee

Gathering together people that are knowledgeable and passionate about WASH always leads to beneficial outcomes. 

The District 5450 WASH Committee was formed over 17 years ago.  This active committee holds monthly Zoom calls on WASH topics and have developed a well respected annual WASH Symposium.

To learn how the District 5450 WASH Committee operates and tips on how to form a WASH Committee in your District follow this link::
Forming a District WASH Committee 


 

With $1,500 in prize money, the 2025 People of WASH Photograph and Video Competition is now open for submissions. Follow this link to get more details: https://www.wash-rag.org/photo-contest/

Prize Money
Photograph - First - $300, Second - $150 and Third $75
Video          - First - $600, Second - $300, and Third $150

We will be using submissions on WASH-RAG promotional and educational materials, so there are great bragging rights in addition to the prize money. 

23 -  25 Jan     - Uniendo America Project Fair (Panama) 
31 Jan - 3 Feb - Columbia Project Fair (Medellin)

22 Mar 2025    - World Water Day

28 May 2025   - World Menstrual Hygiene Day

24 - 31 Aug     - World Water Week (Stockholm)

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