Operators Without Borders

Operators Without Borders (OWB) is a volunteer-driven charity that mobilizes certified water and wastewater professionals to help utilities in developing countries recover from disasters and strengthen long-term resilience. Born out of the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, OWB answered Dominica’s call for help and has since grown into a global network of more than 100 volunteers, delivering nearly $2M in services. Our mandate is to restore safe drinking water and wastewater services, build local capacity, and support communities in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. When hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods strike, OWB operators deploy quickly to restore treatment plants and distribution networks, often working on the ground for weeks at a time. There is no labour cost to utilities, OWB fundraises for travel while hosts provide meals and accommodation, ensuring support reaches those who need it most. Recent partnerships include helping the British Virgin Islands water team identify leaks and design repair strategies to secure the territory’s water future. Beyond emergency response, we build lasting capacity. OWB has created more than 225 SOPs, freely shared with partner utilities, and delivered mentorship, technical assessments, and specialized training programs. Our workshops have trained over 500 professionals across the Caribbean, South America, Africa, and Ukraine in areas such as laboratory safety, chemical and biological contamination, non-revenue water (NRW) reduction, and the Incident Command System. Our efforts helped reduce NRW from 80% to 35% in Pignon, Haiti. In Kenya, certification training equipped operators with globally consistent standards. By pairing expertise with empathy, OWB empowers utilities to recover faster, operate safely, and build resilience for the future. Together, we create a world where clean water and effective wastewater management remain a reality—even in the face of crisis.