Weekly Program: Humanity Needs Water

 

A drop of water is flexible. A drop of water is powerful. A drop of water is in demand.

Water is at the core of sustainable development. Water resources, and the range of services they provide, underpin poverty reduction, economic growth and environmental sustainability. From food and energy security to human and environmental health, water contributes to improvements in social well-being and inclusive growth, affecting the livelihoods of billions.  On March 22 thw world celebrated an International Water Day.  Did you know the theme of the United Nation for this year?

The United Nation's 2015 Theme: Water and Sustainable Development

Well, all Rotarians have embraced the need for sustainable water projects around the world and promote many worthwhile projects to provide humanity clean drinking water and water sanitation projects. This is one of the six major focus areas of Rotary International.

Clean water is a basic need for human beings. When people, especially children, have access to clean water, they live healthier and more productive lives. However, at least 3,000 children die each day from diseases caused by unsafe water, which is what motivates our members to build wells, install rainwater harvesting systems, and teach community members how to maintain new infrastructure.

While very few people die of thirst, millions die from preventable waterborne diseases, providing the impetus for our members to also improve sanitation facilities in undeveloped countries. Members start by providing toilets and latrines that flush into a sewer or safe enclosure and then add education programs to promote hand-washing and other good hygiene habits.

Investing in clean water could save 2.5 million lives a year. We can't afford not to protect the world's water supply. Take action with Rotary to create access to clean water.  This was published on March 23, 2015 on You Tube:

 
The Project Enhancement Process (PEP) is an initiative by The Rotary Foundation (TRF) to strategically utilize its volunteer and staff resources to sharpen Rotary’s focus, enhance the technical quality of projects, support sound project design, make effective grants, and measure our impact in the areas of focus. The pilot will concentrate on achieving these objectives in the water and sanitation area of focus.   This was a pilot program which ended in 2014, and developed some guidelines worth considering for developing water projects.   Put some PEP in your water projects -
 
PEP Goals are to: 

• increase the quality and likelihood of sustainability of Rotarian-led water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) projects 

• enhance Rotary’s profile, reputation, and image 

• utilize and leverage Rotarian expertise to enhance and improve project design 

• increase external funding as a result of strong projects and enhanced public image 

• transition from short-term projects to long-term and more comprehensive programs that holistically address community needs. 

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During the twin tragedies of the Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, Ipswich water-treatment expert Michael Pritchard winced helplessly at televised coverage of throngs of refugees waiting for days for a simple drink of clean water. Stricken by the chronic failure of aid agencies to surmount this basic challenge, Pritchard decided to do something about it.

Using a non-chemical nano-filtration hollow fiber membrane with 15 nanometer pores (it is designed to block viruses), the Lifesaver bottle can make the most revolting swamp water drinkable in seconds. Better still, a single long-lasting filter can clean 6,000 liters of water. Given the astronomical cost of shipping water to disaster areas, Pritchard's Lifesaver bottle could turn traditional aid models on their heads.

What others say

“On the outside, it looks like an ordinary sports bottle. On the inside, there's a miracle: an extremely advanced filtration system that makes murky water filled with deadly viruses and bacteria completely clean in just seconds.” — Allison Barrie, FoxNews.com

Rotary clubs do not have to re-invent the wheel on how to provide clean water to others.  Partnerships are encouraged with organizations such as Clean Water for the World, Pure Water for the World, and many more. 

Here are some compelling facts about why we support water projects taken from the website of Pure Water for the World:

*780 million people have only dirty water to drink, with no viable way to make it potable. Their water regularly makes them sick.

*Dehydration and malnutrition from resulting diarrheal disease kill 2.4 million people every year – almost three times the deaths from malaria. 90% of these deaths are in children under the age of 5.

*Over one third of the people on Earth lack adequate sanitation, so waterborne diseases are easily transmitted from person to person.

*Unsafe water and unhygienic living conditions hit children hardest.

*They kill a child every 15 seconds.

Thank you, Rotarians, for accepting the challenge to make a difference in this world!