UBC alum brings community leaders into global safe drinking water conversation with new film

What works effectively for long-term success in safe drinking water? Community participation. That's the No. 1 thing it takes, UBC alum Karl Zimmermann found in making his documentary. Zimmerman's "Water, Together" premiers Aug. 12 at the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition. His aim is to share the film's messages from community leaders around the world—talking in their own voices and own languages—with global policy makers and non-profits involved in UN Sustainable Development Goal #6 (water sanitization and hygiene) initiatives. Says Zimmermann: "Communities themselves must be the ones to address values-based decisions, such as, Who deserves new infrastructure when it becomes available? And, should everyone pay the same amount of money for water fees?" The film is the culmination of the filmmaker's UBC PhD research. Watch the trailer.