Across Latin America, access to safe drinking water remains a daily struggle for millions of people living in rural, remote, and displaced communities. In many areas, families rely on untreated rivers, shallow wells, or rainwater collection, often storing water in conditions that increase the risk of contamination and disease. Years of working alongside trusted local partners have shown the urgency and complexity of this challenge.
This is where small, practical and innovative technologies can have a huge impact.
Over the past year, more than 2,500 Platypus+ household filtration units have been located across Latin America, alongside over 300 Squirt ultrafiltration units. These are being implemented with Watsan partners supporting small schools and community settings. When fully deployed, these systems will deliver safe drinking water to an estimated 24,000+ people across some of the region’s most vulnerable communities.
Safe water at the household level
Platypus+ units provide safe drinking water directly at the point of use. Installed in homes or small community settings, they remove bacteria, viruses and other contaminants without the need for chemicals or electricity.
This is particularly important in rural and informal settlements, where water access is inconsistent, and infrastructure is limited or non-existent. In regions such as Putumayo in southern Colombia, families rely on rivers, wells and rainwater with little access to public services. Platypus+ units are now providing a reliable, safe water source within the home, reducing health risks and improving daily life.
Supporting vulnerable and mobile communities
Platypus+ units are reaching communities facing a range of complex challenges, including isolated rural households, internally displaced families, border communities affected by migration, and Indigenous communities in remote environments.
In Cúcuta and Norte de Santander, along the Colombia–Venezuela border, migration has placed pressure on already fragile infrastructure. Here, units are being installed in informal settlements and shelters, providing safe drinking water for families relying on untreated surface water.
In La Guajira, installations are supporting Wayuu Indigenous communities, where geographic isolation and limited infrastructure make safe water access particularly difficult.
In Urabá, along migration routes through the Darién Gap, both Platypus+ and Squirt systems are supporting families living in informal settlements without access to basic services.
Small systems, big impact
Alongside Platypus+ units, more than 300 Squirt ultrafiltration systems are being deployed across the region to support households, schools and community facilities, particularly in rural areas and temporary circumstances.
Together, they provide a complementary approach:
- Platypus+ delivers safe water at the individual household level
- Squirt supports small cluster communities and shared settings
This flexibility allows solutions to be tailored to each community, whether a single household, a small school or a temporary shelter.
Designed for real-world conditions
What makes these systems effective is their suitability for real-world conditions. They are portable, easy to deploy, simple to operate, and low-maintenance, and they function without electricity or chemicals, making them reliable in off-grid and resource-constrained environments.
In regions where infrastructure gaps are significant, these qualities are essential.
Safe drinking water is foundational. By bringing it directly into homes and communities, Platypus+ and Squirt units are improving health, supporting dignity and strengthening resilience across Latin America.
Small systems, when designed well and delivered thoughtfully, can have a profound and lasting impact!
