Podcast Summary: “Clean Water Changes Everything”

Fresh Life Church Podcast | Pastor Levi Lusko with Scott Harrison, Founder of Charity: Water
Date: December 1, 2025

Episode Theme & Purpose

This special episode, recorded at the Charity: Water Experience Lab in Franklin, Tennessee, illuminates the urgent global need for clean water and explores practical solutions. Pastor Levi Lusko sits down with Scott Harrison, founder and CEO of Charity: Water, for a candid, in-depth conversation. The discussion spans the spiritual symbolism of water in the Christian faith, the transformational impact of clean water in impoverished communities, and Scott’s powerful personal testimony—from New York nightlife to pioneering charity work. The aim is to rally listeners’ hearts, especially followers of Jesus, to play a part in solving this solvable crisis.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Scripture as Inspiration ([00:00]–[02:12])

• Matthew 10:42: Jesus says, “Whoever gives one of these little ones a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

• Pastor Levi frames the episode’s subject: “We are talking about something that should move every person on earth's heart, but especially followers of Jesus.”

  Notable quote:
  Levi Lusko [00:14]: “You have literally spent your life bringing cups of cold water to people around the world.”

2. The Crisis & Its Ripple Effects ([02:33]–[07:14])

• The Scope: 700 million people (~1 in 10 worldwide) still drink dirty water daily.

• Profound Impacts:

  • On Women and Girls: Over 200 million hours spent every day collecting (dirty) water, leading many girls to drop out of school.
  • On Health: 50% of disease in affected countries is waterborne; access to clean water could “empty half the hospital beds.”
  • On Economy: Money gets diverted to medicine or even just transport to clinics.

• The Solution Exists: The technology and means to end the water crisis are available—it’s a solvable problem with enough mobilization.

  Notable quote:
  Scott Harrison [05:46]: “Unlike all those problems where we're spending billions of dollars in research labs looking for a cure, we actually have the cure for water... We haven’t implemented the cure. We haven’t gotten enough people to care.”

3. Real World Change: Impact Stories ([07:14]–[13:42])

• 21 Million People Reached: Charity: Water has brought clean water to almost 21 million individuals, equating to 186,000 communities across 29 countries.

• Compounded Life Change: Clean water increases school attendance, especially for girls, and spawns generational progress as children use their newfound time and health for education and entrepreneurship.

• Dramatic Results: Simple wells, costing $10,000 and serving ~250 people, transform villages overnight, sparking days-long celebrations.

• Visceral Experiences: The Experience Lab uses VR and hands-on activities (e.g., carrying water in a heated room on a treadmill) to help others understand the daily struggle and empowerment clean water brings.

  Notable quote:
  Scott Harrison [07:31]: “It’s the story of what people do with the reclaimed time that is—the best stories... Women that will start businesses... Girls who go immediately to school.”

4. The Symbolism & Spirituality of Water ([13:15]–[16:14])

• Water in the Bible: Water is a repeated motif—parting seas, drawing from deep wells, and Jesus’ miracles—mirroring the spiritual depth and necessity of physical water.

• Fresh/Spring Water: The “cold water” Jesus refers to is associated with clean, underground springs—purity and provision.

• Surface vs. Depth: Most dirty water is on the surface (exposed, hot, contaminated); going “deep” yields cold, clean, life-giving water.

  Notable exchange:
  Scott Harrison [15:23]: “The water that we're bringing out of the ground is actually cold because it comes from the depths... out of your refrigerator temperature, and it's clean because it's been trapped.”

5. Sustainability, Technology, and Local Empowerment ([17:12]–[18:45])

• Well Longevity: Wells are built to last a decade or more (some are 19+ years old).

• Maintenance: Charity: Water trains thousands of local mechanics and utilizes remote sensor technology for ongoing maintenance—empowering the local economy.

• Indigenous Employment: 7,000+ locals form the backbone of projects in 21 countries—creating jobs and long-term ownership.

  Notable quote:
  Scott Harrison [18:37]: “Nobody that looks like me is working at a charity water project around the world... You want to help people empower and lead their communities and their countries forward.”

6. Transformative Stories: Generations Changed ([19:12]–[20:43])

• John Bosco’s Story: From drinking toxic water as a child in Rwanda to now raising a daughter who’s never known dirty water—symbolizing generational transformation.

  Notable quote:
  Scott Harrison [20:30]: “Every child born into that village knows something better, knows the pure water, knows something new.”

7. A Charity Model That Builds Trust ([39:22]–[42:33])

• Radical Transparency: 100% of public donations fund wells (overhead is covered separately). Every project is tracked; donors receive GPS coordinates and progress updates.

• Technology Integration: First charity to track every project on Google Maps/Earth; now uses “waterproof” technology for micro-tracking.

• Redefining Giving: Emphasizing joy, not guilt, and promoting a new, modern, creative approach to charity.

  Notable quote:
  Scott Harrison [40:17]: “We know that business leaders and entrepreneurs would actually love to pay the salaries... so that millions of people could give in the purest way possible.”

8. Scott’s Personal Redemption Story ([25:18]–[37:12])

• Tragedy and Formation: A childhood defined by caring for a chronically ill mother (due to carbon monoxide poisoning), igniting a desire to heal and serve.

• Prodigal Years: From Christian upbringing to a decade in Manhattan’s nightlife, chasing success but feeling empty.

• Transformative Wake-Up: Inspired by deep theological reading, he “tithes” time—volunteering with Mercy Ships in Africa, witnessing the health crisis caused by dirty water.

• Call to Action: Seeing the stark contrast between his past excess (selling expensive bottled water at clubs) and the suffering from water scarcity, he founded Charity: Water.

  Notable quote:
  Scott Harrison [27:33]: “I was miserable... there's always more... an insatiable desire. All of these things were my identity.”

  On faith and transformation:
  Scott Harrison [32:49]: “I wanted to live a life of service where I could use what I was blessed with... in the service of others. And then I wanted to, like, live pure... I wanted a new chapter of my life to unfold.”

• Encouragement for Parents: His mother prayed for him for a decade; Levi encourages listeners not to give up on prodigal loved ones.

9. How to Get Involved ([43:17]–[44:09])

• Monthly Giving—The Spring: $40/month provides clean water for one new person every month. Donations are transparent and trackable.

• Collective Action: Churches, individuals, and even children making a difference—“Just do the next one.”

  Notable quote:
  Scott Harrison [43:35]: “We have college students that are like, every four months they get one person clean water... the ability to track every month’s donation has really helped the community grow.”

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Levi Lusko [14:41]: “So many miracles in scripture, from beginning to end, tap into water.”
• Scott Harrison [13:23]: “All that was needed was $10,000 to help 250 people... It's kind of crazy. $40 a person.”
• Levi Lusko [16:46]: “It's much like us living on the solution to the problem, just many of us not being mobilized, not being activated...”
• Scott Harrison [35:09]: “Someone said years ago, well, you're just trying to bring clean water to your mom... You just found something poisoning the world, and you're trying to make everybody healthy.”

Important Timestamps

• Scriptural framing & the heart of the episode: [00:00]–[02:12]
• Scale and solvability of the crisis: [02:33]–[07:14]
• Impact stories and personal change: [07:14]–[13:42]
• Biblical symbolism of water: [13:15]–[16:14]
• Sustainability & local empowerment: [17:12]–[18:45]
• Scott’s journey & testimony: [25:18]–[37:12]
• Innovative charity model: [39:22]–[42:33]
• How listeners can join the mission: [43:17]–[44:09]

Tone & Takeaways

The tone is purposeful, honest, passionate, and hope-filled—rooted in faith but open to all. It blends personal vulnerability, practical information, and spiritual inspiration. At its heart: Clean water is not just a humanitarian issue, but a kingdom issue—solvable if each person brings their “cup of cold water.”

For More Info:

• Get involved or learn more: charitywater.org
• Join "The Spring" and transform lives monthly
• Connect with Fresh Life Church for future partnership and giving opportunities

“There are 700 million people. That number could be zero. We could see a day where every human being on Earth has clean water to drink.”
— Scott Harrison [06:16]