The Dow Chemical Co. and humanitarian healthcare agency International Aid recently announced a partnership that will help provide safer and cleaner water around the world.
Dow will supply all of the plastic resin required to manufacture 300,000 HydrAid BioSand Water Filters, a lightweight water purification device currently being distributed by International Aid and its partners worldwide. At just 7 lb, the HydrAid filter is viewed as a major design improvement to the traditional, 300-lb concrete BioSand filter. Manufactured by Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Cascade Engineering, the injection-molded, nonelectric device is far easier to transport, and can provide enough clean, safe water to meet all of a family's daily water needs.
"The simplicity, affordability and effectiveness of the HydrAid water filter hold the promise to make a dramatic impact on the global water crisis," International Aid President and CEO Myles D. Fish said. "We are delighted that Dow is joining with International Aid and our growing number of distribution partners to help bring the HydrAid filter to the many thousands of communities suffering from lack of clean water worldwide."
More than one billion people across the developing world lack access to safe water and nearly 5,000 children die each day from a host of water-related diseases.
"As a world leader in chemistry, we are uniquely positioned to use our products and technologies to develop innovative solutions to supply cleaner and safer water to those in need," said David Kepler, senior vice president, chief sustainability officer for Dow. "Through partnerships with organizations like International Aid, we can increase the global sense of urgency to help solve these world challenges."
International Aid's global safe water campaign is enlisting humanitarian groups, NGOs, churches, faith-based organizations and individuals to help address the mounting worldwide health crisis caused by waterborne illness. Dow's commitment to this initiative aligns with the company's 2015 Sustainability Goals, and its pledge to contribute to solutions for some of the most serious problems faced by the most vulnerable members of the larger human family: affordable and adequate food supply, decent housing, improved personal health and safety and sustainable water supplies.
Dow and International Aid announced their partnership at the 2008 International Thirsting to Serve Water Conference, held at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Source: Dow Chemical Co.
