Access to clean drinking water is the critical first step for addressing a wide range of health, education, gender and economic issues. With access, children and their families live longer, healthier lives.

While the health benefits of a clean water supply are critical, other benefits flow from the PlayPump® water system as well. Children are playing and staying in school instead of hauling water. While they are having fun, children are learning self-confidence and interpersonal skills. Play stimulates bodies and minds.

Women benefit too, as they no longer risk injury from transporting heavy containers of water over great distances, and they can use the time saved to better care for their children and start small enterprises that bring additional food and income to their families.

The PlayPump system can increase awareness of how to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS. Public health messages on PlayPump billboards promote healthy behaviors that limit the spread of HIV/AIDS in rural Africa. Also, in order for HIV infected people to remain healthy as long as possible, adequate water supplies and sanitary facilities are of the utmost importance. Clean water is needed to take medication.

In addition to helping to provide access to clean water, the PlayPump water system is uniquely sustainable and creates economic benefits. The 2,500-liter water tank provides a rare advertising opportunity in rural communities. On each PlayPump storage tank, Roundabout Outdoor leases two sides of the raised storage tank for consumer advertising and leases the other two sides for public health messaging.

Advertising revenue pays for pump maintenance for up to 10 years. Roundabout Outdoor trains local crews on the installation and maintenance, generating new jobs for local workers.

And the installation of PlayPump water systems is helping to achieve the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals.