News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2009                         
CONTACT:    Liz Reberry
lreberry@healingwatersintl.org
(303) 526-7278

Healing Waters Combats Worldwide Poverty One Drop at a Time

Non-Profit Distributes 70 Million Gallons of Safe Drinking Water

 
One drop at a time, Healing Waters International, a Colorado-based non-profit organization is working to distribute safe, clean and sustainable drinking water to the world’s impoverished people.  Since its inception in February 2002, Healing Waters will have distributed 70 million gallons of clean drinking water in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Guatemala and Kenya on February 1st. 

The speed at which Healing Waters is now delivering safe, affordable water is impressive.   While it took nearly 18 months to deliver the first million gallons and three years to distribute 10 million gallons; they are now providing 20 million gallons every year – 1.5 million gallons per month.  That means Healing Waters International systems provide the daily water for more than 100,000 people.  And that number will accelerate as they target to open 8 more systems in 2009.

Healing Waters takes a unique approach starting with the communities it targets.  While there are many agencies working to build clean water delivery systems in rural areas, the need for safe drinking water in urban communities is largely overlooked.  There are countless communities in developing countries that have water infrastructures in place, and yet the water is still contaminated due to a variety of causes, including leaky pipes, intermittent supply and groundwater contamination.  Since it is not economically feasible to repair complete infrastructures, most people rely on store-bought purified water for cooking and drinking.  But of course there are many, many people who simply cannot afford to buy purified water and must rely on the contaminated water.  Although these urban communities appear to be somewhat developed, the problem of water-related disease and death is every bit as serious as it is in rural areas.

Healing Waters has implemented 67 water purification solutions in poor communities of developing countries, selling the water at an affordable cost. Healing Waters credits its success in providing clean water to poor communities to these keys to sustainability:

1.)    Healing Waters empowers local ministry partners to manage the process.  Local partners fulfill the fundamental mission, stability, ethical code, infrastructure and dedication necessary for success.
2.)    Healing Waters provides clean water at a very affordable price.  A sponsor provides the initial start-up costs and the local ministry partner provides a very small initial investment to help ensure its long-term commitment.  The ministry partner then charges a very low price – typically less than one-third the price of water sold in stores – to cover the system’s ongoing maintenance.
3.)    Healing Waters ensures a quality product.  Every system produces highly purified water – even better than what many bottled water companies sell. 
4.)    Each Healing Waters’ project donates water to a local school, hospital or other service organization.  Because the system is financially sustained by the community, these customers are making it possible for this service to be provided to the children of their community.  This creates a unified sense of purpose and motivates all involved to keep the project running.
5.)    Remaining revenues are used by the local ministry partner to fund other community service projects – food pantries, housing and medical subsidies.

Healing Waters International is a non-profit organization founded in 2002 that works to reduce water-related illness and death in developing countries by building self-sustaining projects that make safe drinking water accessible to the poor and empower local churches to bring physical, social and spiritual healing to their communities.  Current projects are located in the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Guatemala. For further information or inquiry you may contact Healing Waters International at their headquarters at 534 Commons Drive; Golden, CO 80401; (303) 526-7278; www.healingwatersintl.org.

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