The ripple effect of clean water

In rural schools across Bhutan, India, and Colombia, the installation of clean water systems is changing lives in simple yet profound ways. Children who once relied on unsafe water sources now have access to clean drinking water, improving their health and reducing absenteeism. Behind this transformation is the SkyJuice Foundation, an Australian non-profit dedicated to bringing sustainable water solutions to communities in need.

Central to the foundation’s work is the SkyHydrant, a passive, gravity-fed filtration system capable of producing up to 15,000 liters of safe drinking water daily without the need for electricity or chemicals. Designed to be efficient and cost-effective, the SkyHydrant delivers clean water for less than one cent per 100 liters over its 10-year lifespan. Its simplicity and affordability make it particularly well-suited for schools, where budgets are often limited, and the need for reliable infrastructure is critical.

The SkyJuice Foundation’s projects in schools are making a tangible difference. In Bhutan, the implementation of SkyHydrant units has led to significant improvements in student health and hygiene, allowing children to focus on their education. Similar results are being seen in Colombia, where clean water systems have been introduced in rural schools, addressing chronic issues of waterborne diseases and poor sanitation facilities. The impact goes beyond health, creating a better learning environment and giving children a better start in life.

“Access to safe water is not a technical problem—it’s a matter of will,” says Rhett Butler, the Chairman of SkyJuice Foundation. This belief drives SkyJuice’s efforts not only to deliver water but to empower communities to maintain and sustain their water systems. By training local operators and collaborating with community groups, the foundation ensures that its interventions are long-lasting and self-sufficient.

The foundation’s disaster relief efforts in the Philippines and Indonesia highlight another crucial aspect of its work. Following Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, SkyJuice deployed SkyHydrant units to provide clean water to affected communities, helping to prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases. In Indonesia, the foundation has supported disaster-hit regions with rapid deployment of water systems, enabling vulnerable populations to access safe water even when local infrastructure is damaged or destroyed.

As the 2025 winner of the Zayed Sustainability Prize in the Water category, SkyJuice is now poised to expand its impact even further. The $1 million award they won will allow the organization to establish reference locations in underserved communities and scale its efforts to schools, hospitals, and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.

“The technology we had developed was incredible, but it was out of reach for the people who needed it most,” Butler explains. This realization shaped SkyJuice’s commitment to making its solutions affordable and accessible. The SkyHydrant’s design, which uses principles of biomimicry to imitate natural filtration processes, ensures high efficiency without the need for expensive energy inputs or chemical additives.

The benefits of clean water extend beyond immediate health improvements. In India, for example, SkyJuice’s projects have reduced the burden on children and families who previously spent hours collecting water. This has freed up time for girls, in particular, to attend school and participate in educational activities, promoting gender equity and fostering long-term social and economic benefits for their communities.

“It’s not just about providing water; it’s about empowering people to take control of their own resources,” says Butler. This philosophy underpins SkyJuice’s work across the globe, from disaster relief to long-term school projects, ensuring that communities are equipped to manage their own water needs.

The SkyJuice Foundation’s initiatives show how clean water can be a catalyst for broader change. By addressing a fundamental need, the organization is enabling communities to build healthier, more sustainable futures. In doing so, it demonstrates that even straightforward solutions, when paired with commitment and collaboration, can make a significant and lasting impact.

This spirit of innovation and impact lies at the heart of the Zayed Sustainability Prize. As a pioneering global award that has empowered 128 winners since 2008, the Prize provides funding and recognition to those driving transformative solutions in health, food, energy, water, and climate action.

The Zayed Sustainability Prize is now open for submissions for the 2026 cycle. Small to medium enterprises (SMEs), nonprofit organizations, and high schools are invited to submit their solutions in six distinct categories: Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action, and Global High Schools.

For more details and to submit your application, please click here.