Water & Air – Filter Systems News

For $100, you can provide clean water to one family in need, for a lifetime, through Give Clean Water (GCW) – a California-based, non-profit organization that partners with local community organizations in Fiji to install water filters for families in need of clean water.

The filter – called the “Point One Filter” – attaches to a 5-gallon bucket and removes more than 99.99 percent of bacteria and protozoa, such as giardia and cryptosporidium. It comes with a lifetime, “one-million gallon” guarantee. Prior to each installation, GCW team members gather biographical and demographic information from the families, take photos, and mark each home with a GPS address. They also educate each family on basic hygiene and the importance of drinking and cooking with clean water. Once the filter is installed, GCW sends a follow up team to the homes to answer questions about the proper use and maintenance of the filter. Each home is also given contact information for the local community organization partnered with GCW, in case there are any problems.

Give Clean Water currently works in Fiji, but hopes to expand it’s reach in the coming years. Contrary to popular belief, not all ares of the Fiji Islands are vacation spots. Though the bottled water industry continues to make a profit on Fiji Water, sadly, there are many local residents who die from lack of access to clean water, every day.

Anyone can get involved by spreading the word through social media, sponsoring or participating in upcoming trips, hosting a unique fundraiser, or donating directly through the website.

Help us celebrate #charitytuesday by spreading the word about this unique water charity!

The Reef Check Foundation is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of tropical coral reefs and California rocky reefs. Our coral reefs are in danger due to over-fishing, illegal fishing and pollution. Virtually no reef in the world remains untouched by human impact. Founded in 1996 by marine ecologist Dr. Gregor Hodgson, Reef Check strives to educate the public about this  crisis and the value of reef ecosystems. The organization is headquartered in Los Angeles and has volunteer teams in over 90 countries who monitor and report on reef health, and produce ecologically and economically sustainable solutions to the problem of damaged reefs, while stimulating local community action to protect any remaining pristine reefs, worldwide.

There are several ways to get involved, from making a donation on the website or becoming a Reef Check member, to volunteering and participating in educational projects hosted by Reef Check. These include a “What Do Reefs Mean to You?” Photo Contest, an Artists for Reefs Gallery where artists can display their marine-themed art, and even a Singing Contest aimed at helping young people learn more about the marine environment.

This #charitytuesday, spread the word about a different kind of water charity! Visit Reef Check’s website to learn more about ways you can help restore this natural and beautiful part of creation.

Abundant Water (AW) is a non-profit organization founded by Australian engineer, and AW project manager, Sunny Forsyth. He realized the need for clean drinking water in rural communities in Laos, a developing country, while working as an Australian Government Youth Ambassador in 2007. He sought advice from Dr. Tony Flynn at the Australian National University, whose research demonstrated that clay-pot filters, made from sustainable materials found everywhere, are a low-cost, innovative and effective way to remove over 95 percent of the pathogens found in unsafe drinking water. In August of 2008, Abundant Water was born. Through the website, Sunny generated support for the project and began the process of making clay-pot filters with local potters.

Donations can be made from within or outside of Australia and they go toward training indigenous potters in Laos and elsewhere to make their own clay-pot water filters. Patrons can donate any amount, but the website suggests purchasing a 2011 Abundant Water Calendar (pictured above) for $15. This can provide training for one potter in Laos, and the calendar will serve as a daily reminder of the people your gift will help.

This #charitytuesday, we call attention to Abundant Water – a non-profit organization based in Australia, helping to bring clean drinking water to the people of Laos, through innovative, long-lasting methods.

Waves 4 Water was founded in 2009 by pro surfer, Jon Rose. On his way to Bali to deliver 10 water filters for what would have been the charity’s first mission, he felt a shake. When he came to shore, he realized that a 7.6 magnitude earthquake had hit the city of Sumatra, and he made his way through the crumbled buildings to get water filters into the hands of rescue workers to help the country’s wounded victims. It was this experience that solidified the need for Waves 4 Water, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing clean water to impoverished people around the world.

Waves 4 Water teamed up with Hurley International to develop a program called Clean Water Couriers. The concept is both simple and innovative: surfers, in search of waves in third-world countries carry filters with them in their luggage and either connect with local nonprofits in the area or travel to villages to personally set them up. There are two types of filtration systems – a $50 community filter, which will filter up to 200 gallons of water a day for an entire village, and a $25 family use filter system that filters 14 gallons per day. Materials include a plastic bucket (which may be found locally), a ceramic filter, a spigot, and a knife to cut a hole in the bucket.  The ceramic filters will remove a variety of contaminants including bacteria, viruses, cysts and microorganisms that cause waterborne illness.

Anyone can get involved, either by making a direct donation through the Waves 4 Water website, or by buying water filters and traveling with them through the Clean Water Couriers program. Though the program was conceived in the surf community, the opportunity to get involved, by donating or by traveling, is open to all.

Help us spread the word, this #charitytuesday, about Waves 4 Water, by retweeting and/or sharing this post!

AVEDA is a manufacturer and retailer of high-end hair care and skin care products. The company has set aside this month, in honor of Earth Day, to raise money to protect the planet. Aveda has been dedicated to sustainable environmental causes since day one, using natural, plant-based, organic ingredients in all of its products, and raising over $18 million since 1999, $12 million of which has been used to support clean water projects around the world.

There are several ways Aveda patrons can help contribute to the cause. You can purchase the Aveda Limited Edition Light the Way Candle, which is scented with 100 percent lavender, lavandin and clary sage essential oils, (much better for your indoor air quality than chemical air fresheners) and is packaged with recycled materials. Aveda will give 100 percent of the proceeds from the sales of this product to Global Greengrants clean water projects. In addition, if you receive a service at a participating Aveda-concept salon during Earth Month, the stylist or service provider will donate a portion of the appointment to one of their clean water partners.

If you don’t use Aveda products, you can still get involved by simply making a donation online, or by participating in an Aveda 3.7-Mile Walk for Water, which takes place in cities all over the world to raise awareness and funds for various grassroots organizations. The company also suggests other simple ways you can protect water sources every day – by supporting organic farming, conserving electricity, and eating less meat.

Though Aveda is not a non-profit organization, we wanted to recognize their efforts to protect clean water through partnership with other charitable organizations, this #charitytuesday. Join us in raising awareness by re-tweeting this post!

Ryan Hreljac began raising money for water projects in 1998, at age six. When he found out from his first grade teacher that people in other countries were dying because of the lack of access to clean water, he began doing chores around his house to raise money for well projects. After raising $70, his first well was built in Uganda, just after he turned 7. The Ryan’s Well Foundation was officially formed just two years later in 2001.

This Canadian-registered water charity supports several safe water and sanitation projects through partnership with local, non-governmental organizations and people. Ryan’s Well has helped build over 600 wells and over 700 latrines, bringing safe water and sanitation to more than 700,000 people since its inception. People of all ages are encouraged to get involved by making donations, or hosting a creative fundraiser.

We have chosen to feature Ryan’s Well Foundation for #charitytuesday, because of the uniqueness of Ryan’s story. At only six years old, he had a dream that has since changed the lives of thousands of people. Ryan is an inspiration to anyone wanting to make a difference, whether old or young.

The Ryan’s Well Foundation, along with many others, can be found on our list of water charities. If you know of one that is not on that list, please contact us at selwa@filtersfast.com and let us know.

This #charitytuesday, we are taking a break from Water Charities to pay tribute to our first ever featured “air charity.” The American Lung Association held their first Fight for Air Climb in Cleveland, this past Saturday, March 5, 2011. Climbers, walkers, runners, firefighters and supporters of the ALA challenged themselves by climbing the 42 flights of stairs in Terminal Tower (804 steps total), in an effort to raise money to support the fight against lung disease. The goal was to raise $80,000 to support lung health, research and advocacy in Northern Ohio. Together they raised over $40,000, and the option to donate is still available on the Cleveland Fight for Air Climb event website.

Fight for Air Climbs are unique events for the ALA, taking place in large towers in cities across the US. Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in America, and the ALA is dedicated to helping people know what is needed to manage and take control of asthma and other chronic respiratory ailments. We at Filters Fast are dedicated to this cause as well, and know that indoor air quality can be a key factor in the development of chronic lung illness. Take care of yourself by making sure your environment is free from harmful air pollutants. Clean regularly and change your air filters on a consistent basis. You and your family may also want to consider investing in one or several room air purifiers for your home, especially if you suffer from allergies or asthma.

Show your support publicly, by signing up for a Fight for Air Climb in a city near you.

This week, in honor of #charitytuesday, we have chosen to feature Water is Life. I wrote a brief summary of their work in our Water Charities List, but we felt like this was such a unique cause that they deserved a bigger spotlight.

Water is Life has developed a filtration technology that filters dirty water through a straw in three stages. When the straw is immersed in water (like a normal drinking straw), it filters particles, membranes and molecules in the first chamber. Then as the water is sipped through the remaining chambers, an iodine filtration system eliminates disease, and charcoal grates remove any bad tastes to provide fresh, clean, safe water. The system filters particles down to 15 microns in size.

The Water is Life straw has proven to be effective against waterborne diseases such as typhoid, cholera, dysentery, guinea worm and diarrhea, and each straw filters water for one person for up to an entire year.

However, the straws are just a short-term solution to those that need immediate assistance. 6,500 people – 5,000 of whom are children – die daily due to the lack of access to clean water. Water is Life distributes the straws as a temporary fix, while they work to develop long-term sustainable solutions like water wells, sand filters and other technology, combined with hygiene and sanitation assistance in each village.

If you would like to donate to Water is Life, you may do so directly on the website. Each straw costs $10. Volunteers may also get involved by hosting  a fundraising event, or by joining a Water is Life team and traveling to distribute straws in Kenya, Ghana, Haiti and other countries.

Stay tuned to learn more about a special charity project that Filters Fast will be hosting in the coming months. In the meantime, promote the Water is Life cause to your friends by sharing this post on Facebook and Twitter!

“Wine symbolizes fortune in our society. Our goal is to give the fortunate population an opportunity to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.” – Wine To Water

Wine to Water is based on the story of Jesus' first miracle where he turned water into wine.

Doc Hendley, founder of Wine to Water, dreamed up the concept of this water charity while bartending and playing music in nightclubs in Raleigh in 2003. The dream became reality in 2004, when he held his first fundraiser – a wine event that helped him pay for the installation of water systems in Darfur, Sudan. In fact, Doc was living in Darfur in August of that same year, installing the systems, himself.

Wine to Water is based on Jesus’ first miracle of turning water into wine at a wedding. When the host ran out of wine, Jesus told the servants to fill six stone water pots with water and draw some out for the headwaiter of the party. When the headwaiter tasted the water that had been turned into wine, he called the bridegroom and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now” (John 2: 9-10). Wine to water seeks to allow Jesus to turn this miracle around for the needy people of the world who don’t have access to clean water by turning the funds raised from the sale of wine into clean water projects.

Wine tastings are the main type of fundraiser event supported by Wine to Water; however, Doc encourages anyone to be creative – to get involved by hosting other types of events as well, such as “a benefit concert, a fundraising dinner, a 5K race or walk, or school dance.” Doc fullfilled this dream the only way he knew how at the time: by playing music and pouring wine; now he encourages others to use their unique talents for the common goal.

Wine to Water has helped to provide clean water to people in 9 countries since 2004. Those who don’t wish to host an event can still donate to the cause directly on the website. The organization also makes and distributes their very own wine – Old Vine Zinfandel and Estate Chardonnay – by the bottle or by the case. A portion of all proceeds from every bottle sold goes toward supporting clean water and sanitation efforts.

Since Tuesday is #charitytuesday on twitter, we thought we’d do a weekly feature on one of our favorite water charities. Today we’ve picked one that’s not on our original water charity list: World Walks for Water. It’s a global event that takes place from March 19-22 of this year, that aims to raise awareness of the world’s clean water and sanitation crisis. Anyone may participate in this global demand for strong government action to stop the needless death of thousands every day.

I think of it as a peaceful protest for clean water.

Millions of women and children miss out on the chance to get an education due to the poverty that ensues from a lack of access to clean water. They must spend hours a day traveling to and fro to collect water for their families – water that is dirty and will likely make them sick – and even more hours a day caring for their sick loved ones. Though many water charities exist and are working to solve this crisis, corrupt politics can often ruin even the most sincere charitable efforts. World Walks for Water stands up to those politics, by demanding that these issues be ignored no longer.

Those of us who are more privileged take clean water for granted. What’s worse, rather than investing in technology that purifies water in safe, healthy ways, our governments use toxic chemicals to disinfect our water. (Fortunately, there are companies like Filters Fast that provide ways to filter them out.) World Walks for Water is a chance for all of us to stand up and demand that the world’s entire population, rich or poor, have access to safe water and sanitation. It’s an event that unites people from all walks of life.

You can join the online walk directly on the website. Online walkers are featured on the home page with cartoon characters holding water jugs and walking in a straight line. Each time your mouse rolls over a character, a quote, like “taps and toilets for all,” or “children at school, not walking for water” is displayed on his or her water jug. To join this colorful cast of characters, simply visit the website and fill out the form. Then, if you want to sign up to participate in a walk in your area, or even organize your own walk, you can do that from the website as well. We just joined the virtual walk and are pretty excited about it.

Join the walk for water, and tell your friends by retweeting this post!