June 26, 2009

Proctor & Gamble and World Vision Team-Up to Respond with Clean Drinking Water to Pakistan Humanitarian Crisis

The current conflict involving militants in Pakistan has caused more than 2.5 million people to be displaced from their homes, about half of whom are women and children. The millions fleeing for safety are setting up camps, where there is an urgent need for clean drinking water, clothing and food. Recent reports indicate an increase in water-borne disease in these camps; crowded conditions could cause diseases to rapidly spread.

In response to this crisis, Proctor & Gamble (P&G) has partnered with World Vision to provide more than 11 million liters of clean drinking water. Additionally, through funding by P&G’s Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program, World Vision and Project HOPE are leading extensive community-driven programs to distribute 25 million liters of purified water and 2.5 million PUR^TM Purifier of Water packets (a product made by P&G) to approximately 130,000 people. Water purifier packets help to reduce parasites, bacteria and other contaminants found in water and decontaminate within minutes, greatly reducing the risk of illness. The Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program will also provide a total of $326,000 in support to those most in need.

To read the full report, please visit: Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program.

Gilbert AZ Taking Steps to Battle Parasites in Public Pools

In July, 2008, Phoenix area swimmers were impacted by an outbreak of 67 confirmed cases of the parasite cryptosporidium (also known as crypto). Crypto is passed through fecal matter and can cause symptoms like diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, fever, dehydration and vomiting that can last for up to two weeks. As a result of the outbreak affecting pools across the state, all city pools were shut down for testing.

This summer, cities across Arizona are taking precautionary measures to prevent another outbreak. For example, officials with the town of Gilbert have been educating parents at pools about proper pool hygiene and safety. Swim diapers are being supplied and there are plans to super-chlorinate pools after the Fourth of July holiday. As the city impacted most by last year’s outbreak, the city of Phoenix is taking a stronger approach in preventing another outbreak. City officials have posted bilingual pool safety and hygiene signs in area public pools and brochures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are being distributed. Phoenix officials also created a new “deck attendant” position that ensures that all pool rules are being enforced, including showering before entering the pool, ensuring that diapers are changed in restrooms and washing hands with soap and water. In fact, the city has installed changing tables, soap dispensers and has even made swim diapers available through vending machines.

To read the full report, please visit: The Arizona Republic.

Zimbabwe: Harare Gets Water Treatment Chemicals

The struggling city of Harare, Zimbabwe continues to battle the threat of cholera outbreak and remains in desperate need of clean water. This problem is largely due to the ignoring of the city’s water and sewer infrastructure which has become dilapidated under the Mugabe regime. In an effort to aid the city, the World Health Organization (WHO) delivered water treatment chemicals worth approximately $450,000 USD, enough to treat water for a month. The WHO will also provide tents, medicines, protective clothing and training programs. With the threat of cholera still very present, the African Development Bank committed $1 million to implement cholera mitigation programs. WHO country representatives noted that while the supplies and chemical treatment are helpful, they do not solve the problem. The real issue is the city’s water and sewer infrastructure, which the WHO has pledged to address the infrastructure problems.

For more information, please visit: AllAfrica.com.

San Diego/California Faces Water Supply Challenges

In a KPBS radio series entitled, H2NO: San Diego Going Dry, environment reporter Ed Joyce reports on the water shortage challenges in San Diego as the city undergoes its driest period in history. In 2008, San Diego only had 3.2 inches of rain, which contributed to the draining of major reservoirs to historic lows and tapping into stored reserves created for the most severe shortages.

With San Diego County currently importing 80 percent of its fresh water supply, the Water Authority is working to diversify supply by 2020 with a plan that includes water recycling, desalination and conservation.

Joyce believes that there are three significant factors that have led to California’s water supply issues:

• California is currently in its third year of drought;

• The Colorado River basin has been in a drought for eight of the past ten years; and

• There are restrictions on pumping of water from the state water project to save endangered fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

These factors, in addition to the growing population of the southwestern United States, have led to chronic water shortages throughout the state. Experts interviewed, such as Elisa Lynn, a senior meteorologist for the California Department of Water Resources, believe that California’s water supply will be one of the first areas impacted by climate change. There are already concrete signs of the impact like snow in the northern region melting earlier in the spring. If climate models prove correct, San Diego’s droughts over the past three years may appear to be a regular occurrence.

For more information, please visit: KPBS.

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