FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 2017
Contact: Jamin Gelder
Phone: 802-747-0778
Email: info@purewaterfortheworld.org
Web: www.purewaterfortheworld.org
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RUTLAND, VT – With a goal of expanding access to safe drinking water to underserved children and families in the developing world, Pure Water for the World, Inc. announces the acquisition of Michigan-based nonprofit, Safe Water Team.
Safe Water Team (SWT) was established in 2009 to help families living in underdeveloped regions receive access to clean water through the use of the Hydraid biosand water filter. SWT, started by Rotarians and businessmen in the Grand Rapids area, was founded on the belief that corporations have a social responsibility to act to the benefit of a greater society.
SWT established itself as a network of Hydraid filter distributors, with a business model of setting up distribution centers in various countries to sell Hydraid filters to local organizations for implementation. Over seven years, SWT created distribution centers in Haiti, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Ghana and Kenya.
Working in collaboration with Hydraid filter manufacturer, Cascade Engineering, based in Grand Rapids, members of SWT helped to make today’s version of the plastic biosand filter a reality.
“We are extremely excited about joining forces with Pure Water for the World and seeing the increased impact we can have together,” said Wendell Christoff, former President, SWT. “Combining resources will allow us to reduce costs and expand our geographic area to serve more families with safe, clean water.”
Pure Water for the World (PWW) is a 501(c)(3) organization, also founded by Rotarians, headquartered in Vermont. PWW’s mission is to improve the health and livelihood of children and families, living in underserved communities in Central America and the Caribbean, by providing effective tools and education to establish sustainable safe water, hygiene and sanitation solutions. To date, PWW has partnered with over 200 communities, reaching more than 750,000 people in Haiti and Central America.
For six years, PWW has been utilizing the Hydraid biosand filter as its primary household water treatment tool, implemented in combination with hygiene education and training, sanitation solutions, and monitoring and follow-up programs to support long-term use and sustainability.
SWT and PWW have spent years working side-by-side in both Haiti and Honduras. The organizations share similar values, practices, and commitments to bring safe water solutions to those who need it most.
Now operating together, as Pure Water for the World, the organizations anticipate considerable growth in implementations of clean water filters in Central America, Haiti, and Dominican Republic.
“The commitment, the passion and the technical expertise of the Safe Water Team will significantly enhance the ability of Pure Water for the World to provide sustainable safe water and sanitation solutions,” said Robert Mohr, President, PWW Board of Directors. “The true beneficiaries of this union will be those children and families in Honduras, Haiti and Dominican Republic who lack these basic human rights.”
Filter sales will be supplemented with critical safe hygiene and sanitation education through PWW’s established WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) training centers. Overall reach and impact will be extended directly, by way of PWW’s locally-based implementation teams, and indirectly, through the training and sales of filters to outside organizations and implementers.
SWT’s Directors will remain active, with four members joining the PWW Board of Directors, creating a unique synergy and shared knowledge. The past SWT Directors will serve on PWW’s new safe water technologies advisory committee, with a directive of evaluating new and emerging water filtration technologies.
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About Pure Water for The World:
Pure Water for the World is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to improve the health and livelihood of children and families, living in underserved communities in Central America and the Caribbean, by providing effective tools and education to establish sustainable safe water, hygiene and sanitation solutions.
Pure Water for the World has partnered with over 200 communities, reaching more than 750,000 people in Haiti and Central America with life-changing, sustainable safe water, hygiene and sanitation solutions.
For more information, visit www.purewaterfortheworld.org.
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