Save Lives
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Gravity Fed Filters - Manna Energy Foundation, RwandaManna Energy Foundation is installing close to 500 gravity fed water systems and ultraviolet (UV) filtration systems in secondary schools in Rwanda. Water is forced by gravity through a rapid sand filter. The water is then passed under solar powered UV light which decontaminates the water. Decontaminating water with filters eliminates the need to boil water to disinfect it which reduces the number of trees that are cut down as fuel. |
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Water Kiosks/Reverse Osmosis - Naandi Foundation, Water Health International, IndiaThe Naandi Foundation in India is constructing 350 water purification kiosks in villages in India that lack access to clean water. These kiosks use reverse osmosis filtration technology created by Dow Chemical Company to treat dirty water; community members can then purchase clean and safe water for .25 cents per liter. Water purification plants provide an affordable, protected, and sustainable water source to underserved villages. Once the project is completed, Naandi’s water plants will benefit 1.75 million people. |
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WaterGuard Safe Water SystemGlobal Water Challenge and CARE have are provided 320 schools in Kenya with access to clean water treated with WaterGuard safe water system. WaterGuard is a chlorine-based water treatment system that purifies water from the bacteria that causes water-borne diseases. The use of WaterGuard reduces the risk of school children becoming sick due to drinking dirty water, improves overall student health, and aides in decreasing absenteeism due water-related illnesses. The cost of this is so minimal compared to the health benefits and safety it brings to the children. 1 crate/school = $27 |
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Spring Protection in Mexican SchoolsGlobal Water Challenge and Alternativas y Procesos de Participación Social A.C. will supply spring protection to 25 schools reaching 3,375 students, teachers, and parents in the Mixteca-Popoloca region of Mexico. Spring protection helps shield spring water sources located near communities from contamination which helps reduces the spread of water-related diseases and contributes to the overall health of the community. |
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Rainwater HarvestingGlobal Water Challenge and African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) have constructed some amazingly helpful rainwater harvesting systems in 23 schools in the Mtwara region of Tanzania. |
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Water BoreholesA water borehole is a deep hole that provides access to ground water beneath the Earth's surface. Boreholes are lined with material to prevent surface contamination from entering the hole and an electric pump is attached to the bottom of the borehole to draw water to the surface. A borehole that is located near a community provides access to a clean water source and alleviates the need for women and children to spend hours collecting water which contributes in a loss of productivity. |
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New Global Water and Sanitation BillLegislation introduced in the House of Representatives on Earth Day would put the United States in the lead of responding to the worldwide crisis in drinking water and sanitation. The new bill, "The Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2009," commits the U.S. to extending safe, affordable and sustainable supplies of water and sanitation to 100 million people by 2015. Joining companion legislation introduced in the Senate, this major bipartisan initiative would put the U.S. in the forefront of addressing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for drinking water and sanitation. |
