Siemens Sends Drinking Water Treatment Equipment to Victims of Tsunami

USFilter, a Siemens company, is providing drinking water treatment units to regions of Southeast Asia ravaged by the recent tsunami.

USFilter's Memcor group, working with Siemens Thailand office and Loxley Public Company, its distributor in Thailand, plans to contribute seven treatment units, which utilize the company's membrane and disinfection technology. The units are capable of converting raw water into water fit for drinking and other potable uses. Each has a capacity to produce 100 cubic meters (26,400 gallons) of clean water a day.

USFilter is building six of the units on a fast-track schedule at its Memcor manufacturing plant in Windsor, Australia.

According to plant manager Bruce Biltoft, the first of the units is scheduled for shipment to Thailand by Jan. 25. All should be shipped by Feb. 8. The seventh unit is already located in Thailand where it was being prepared as a demonstration unit prior to the tsunami. As soon as it's tested and commissioned, it will be re-located to the disaster area.

"Siemens is providing extensive aid to the victims of the catastrophic tsunamis in Asia," said Siemens CEO Heinrich v. Pierer. "In addition to launching employee donation drives throughout the world, Siemens is focusing on providing local disaster relief. The company is using its local presence in the affected countries to quickly deliver targeted aid. This way, help is reaching the places where it is needed the most."

The company has provided over 1 million euros [US$1.3 million] -- a figure that will be increased as needed. In addition, as of Jan. 11, Siemens employees contributed 341,267.39 euros [US$444,496.43] to Siemens Caring Hands in Germany, with more than 3,350 donors participating. In Thailand, employees also donated over 1 million baht [US$25,967.14].

Once the water treatment units are in Thailand, Siemens and Loxley will fit them out with ancillary components -- such as covers or piping -- that may be required depending on where the units will be deployed. At this moment, the companies are working in parallel to have all necessary components available so that final assembly, installation, and operation of the units can occur as rapidly as possible, Biltoft said.

Source: Siemens