ITT Corp., parent of Bell Gossett, Goulds Pumps and other brands serving the HVAC and plumbing industry, announced that, through its partnership with Mercy Corps, the company is donating five portable water treatment systems in Haiti, providing enough potable water each day for up to 200,000 victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake. The units were donated by ITT and deployed through Mercy Corps' large-scale humanitarian aid response.
This collaborative disaster response is part of a strategic partnership between ITT's corporate citizenship program, ITT Watermark and Mercy Corps. The partnership consists of an ongoing commitment to help provide safe water during emergencies. Immediately following the earthquake, ITT authorized Mercy Corps to tap up to $100,000 of ITT's 2010 Emergency Fund, established to provide fast funding to support an initial, on-the-ground assessment of short- and long-term needs after a disaster. The initial assessment in Port-au-Prince identified an acute need for access to water and sanitation, and set in motion the process of delivering the lifesaving equipment to Haiti.
"Lack of clean water and sanitation presents a critical health risk to victims following disaster, and, as a global water leader, ITT is uniquely positioned to help," said Steve Loranger, chairman, president and CEO, ITT. "There is much to be done in Haiti and we are proud to use our expertise in fluid technology to support our partner, Mercy Corps, with the rebuilding and recovery of water and sanitation infrastructure in Haiti for the long term."
In the aftermath of disaster, lack of clean, potable water, combined with poor living conditions, exacerbates the threat of waterborne disease. As a result, providing safe water and access to adequate sanitation becomes even more crucial.
"Providing access to clean water and sanitation is an essential focus of both our short- and long-term recovery efforts in Haiti," said Nancy Lindborg, president of Mercy Corps. "With ITT as a partner, we are able to deliver the resources necessary to provide local communities with sustainable water solutions and help families in need."
ITT has also committed to doubling its match to contributions employees make to Mercy Corps, up to $5,000 for a maximum of $10,000. To date, employee contributions and the company match total $480,000.
Source: ITT Corp.
