ITT Corp announced on Oct. 20 a strategic partnership with Mercy Corps as part of its corporate philanthropy program, ITT Watermark. The partnership includes a 3-year, $1-million commitment to help provide safe water during emergencies created by natural catastrophes such as floods, droughts and earthquakes.
The company made the announcement at the Water Environment Federation's annual conference in Chicago, Ill.
When natural disaster strikes, access to safe and potable water is often the most critical need. Through this new partnership, ITT will support Mercy Corps' relief and recovery efforts, which include the provision of dewatering and water purification equipment. In addition, the company will aid Mercy Corps' on-the-ground staff with rebuilding and recovery of water and sanitation infrastructure long after disaster strikes.
Mercy Corps, a global relief and development agency, collaborates with the United Nations to implement water and sanitation solutions during worldwide disasters.
"Since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, there has been an increasing number of devastating natural disasters, including Hurricane Katrina, the 2007 floods in Tabasco, Mexico, as well as the recent China earthquake and Myanmar cyclone.
ITT has utilized its strength and expertise in fluid technology in each of these situations to meet the water needs of affected communities," said Steve Loranger, ITT’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Through ITT Watermark and our partnership with Mercy Corps, we are building on our legacy of commitment, formalizing our proactive emergency response strategy and increasing our ability to deploy our resources as quickly as possible."
As part of the initiative, ITT has established an Emergency Response Committee responsible for the coordinated deployment of company resources directly to disaster sites during water-related emergencies. The committee will work with Mercy Corps during the balance of this year to develop a plan for reducing risks and implementing turn-key emergency response protocol.
This relationship with Mercy Corps is the second strategic partnership for ITT Watermark. In August, the company partnered with Water For People, an international development organization, to provide safe water, sanitation and hygiene education to 300 schools in Asia and Latin America by 2010.
Source: ITT Corp.
