Approximately 1.8 million children die each year from diarrhea that could be prevented with access to clean water and a toilet, according to a 2006 United Nations report. The chlorine industry plays a key role in trying to solve this global challenge by providing safe drinking water and sanitation to communities in need via its Safe Water Partnerships administered through the Chlorine Chemistry Foundation (CCF). These partnerships include members of ACC's Chlorine Chemistry Division and the World Chlorine Council (WCC), and manufacturers and users of chlorine and chlorine-related products from the United States, Canada, Europe and South America.
|
- Red Cross Volunteer |
"Potable water projects are the single most important intervention that we do in communities. Teaching the value of chlorinated water and good hygiene practices, and then seeing how the infant mortality rate in a community decreases, is one of the best feelings that a Red Cross Volunteer can have."
At the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, the global community committed to halve by 2015 the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. CCF contributes to meeting this commitment by helping to build long-term, sustainable water and sanitation infrastructure in lesser-developed countries.
Current grants fund three programs described below:
- Chlorine Chemistry Foundation (CCF) Project Reports: Building Sustainable Water Systems
Working with the American Red Cross and other relief organizations, the CCF provides funding to purchase water disinfection chemicals and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe to create permanent water distribution systems. - International Network to Promote Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage
In order to help bring in home water treatment products to communities without access to safe water supplies, the World Health Organization and a growing group of other organizations, including the Chlorine Chemistry Division, have formed the International Network to Promote Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage. - WAWI - West Africa Water Initiative
The West Africa Water Initiative (WAWI) is a multi-partner alliance that focuses on improving public health, providing increased water supply and sanitation services, and promoting sustainable, integrated water resources management in poor communities. - Chlorine Industry Participates in Tsunami Relief Efforts
After the initial destruction of the 2004 tsunami disaster in South Asia and Eastern Africa, experts were concerned that more people would suffer from disease outbreaks related to the lack of clean water than from the force of the initial strike. The global chlorine industry responded using the CCF.
Project Profile:
Sacoyou, Sataña and Chiul, Guatemala (Fall 2003)
The CCF provided grants to fund water and sanitation projects in three Guatemalan villages. The projects, a collaboration between the CCF and the Red Cross, used chlorine disinfectants and PVC pipe to provide safe water supplies, sanitary latrines and improved hygiene for 728 people in 152 families. European industry associations, Euro Chlor and the European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers (ECVM), and ACC's Chlorine Chemistry Division underwrote the CCF grants. » view full report
For additional information, see the resources below:
Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:
