Pure Water For All

Rotary Districts 7300 and 7280, Western Pennsylvania,USA

Why is water a problem?

Approximately 76% of earth is water. 2.5% is fresh. 99.7% of fresh water is inaccessible (polar ice, etc.) = 0.3% of earth’s water available for all living creatures to share. The Great Lakes contain almost 20% of all the fresh water on earth!

Why not turn ocean water into fresh water? Current desalinization projects to turn salt water into fresh water are expensive, cause environmental damage and can only benefit nearby populations that have delivery systems in place.

Over 1.1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water (65% in Asia, 27% in Africa). Many have to devote several hours every day to retrieving water.

Water borne pathogens kill more children that any other cause. Unclean water is the biggest threat to world health.

250 major watersheds worldwide cross political boundaries of at least two nations. Estimates are that the wars of the 21st century will be fought over water, not oil.

These water filters can be used anywhere in the world – including domestic communities that have available clean water disrupted by natural disaster or other causes. Several communities in the US are afflicted by water borne disease at almost the level of third world countries.

Cost of one liter of bottled water is $1US in Pittsburgh and the same in Honduras, where income is $200/mo. Family needs can put the cost of this source at upwards of $40-$60 per month. Incidentally, wood to boil water and medicine to treat children when they get intestinal diseases are more expensive. Spending up to 30% of income on clean water is “health insurance” for poor families and their children.