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.

The concept is simple, yet potentially massive: One person, called a droplet donates $5 to the 3 for 5 Foundation. He or she then approaches three friends, educates them about the cause, and asks them to donate $5. Those three droplets go out and each find three more friends and the cycle repeats, until 20 million droplets have banded together in an effort to bring clean water to people in developing nations.

The 3 for 5 Foundation partners with several “nonprofit organizations who have a proven track record of implementing sustainable, on-the-ground, clean water solutions in places of need.” Currently they are partnered with CARE, Lifewater International, Millennium Water Alliance and Water for People.

This #charitytuesday, we bring recognition to the 3 for 5 Foundation. Sign in to donate here; and don’t forget to tell 3 friends by sharing this post on Facebook and Twitter! If we each contribute  just a little, we can make a huge difference.

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!

Water Missions International was founded by George and Molly Greene, formerly owners of an environmental engineering company when Hurricane Mitch hit Honduras in 1998. Heartbroken by the devastation, they felt the need to assist in some way. After receiving a request for six water treatment systems, and frustrated in their search to find existing systems that would work, they decided to build their own. Upon arrival in the first village receiving assistance, they were greeted by the “River of Death” – a filthy, disease-laden river, the color of chocolate milk. George and Molly treated the river water, using their newly-engineered system, and placed their lips to it to drink, in order to show the villagers that it was safe. Out of this moment came Water Missions International. George and Molly responded to an inner calling, sold their engineering company, and have never looked back. To date, WMI has distributed mini-water treatment systems, which use a combination of chemical disinfection and filtration, to communities in nine different countries. Every mission involves both the spread of clean water, and the spread of the “living water” message of Christianity.

We are drawing attention to WMI this #charitytuesday, because they were recently in the news for attempting to bring relief, in the form of clean water, to Japan earthquake victims. Unfortunately, the country’s permitting process has forced them to put their efforts on standby at this time – which is both heartbreaking and ironic, considering all of the bottled water that’s been distributed since the devastation – but we are hoping that it won’t be for long. Their efforts elsewhere are still going, full force, and in the meantime, you can donate to Water Missions International directly, through their website.