Save Lives With Safe Water
Mayfield, KY
WaterStep had the opportunity to bring relief to hurting people right in our own state after a deadly tornado ravished the Western Kentucky area late in 2021. A disaster response team traveled to the area bringing with them two Water on Wheels (WOW) Carts which are mobile mini-water treatment plants.
The WOW Carts supplied water for showers for the first responders and for the thousands of meals being prepared and given away each day. This was the 26th disaster WaterStep has responded to.
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KENYA
Mayfield Christian School sits on top of a mountain on Mfangano Island and is home to 120 students, many of whom are orphans and live on premises. This island is located in Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake. The lake borders the East African countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and is incredibly contaminated. It serves as the school’s only water source.
Children on the island typically didn’t start school until the age of 8, when they were strong enough to make the treacherous climb up the mountain carrying their water for the day.
WaterStep installed a rain catchment system on the gutters of the school and orphanage and connected it to (5) 2,000 gallon tanks. These will more than supply enough water for the entire campus during dry season. An M-100 ChlorineGenerator was also installed to make the water safe to drink.
Mayfield Christian School and Orphanage on Mfangano Island finally has safe water to drink. The students no longer have to make the treacherous climb up the mountain carrying 40 pounds of water on their heads. They are no longer suffering from waterborne illnesses.
Help bring safe water to Kenya!
Ecuador
Since January of 2020 , twenty communities in Ecuador have benefited by having safe water pumped directly into their homes. WaterStep’s partner Empresa Pública del Agua (EPA) is a local governmental agency doing humanitarian outreach to rural communities that do not have access to safe water. Using WaterStep equipment they are able to make safe water, improve health, build relationships and be good neighbors.
The beautiful people of the EPA devised a way to automate WaterStep’s M-100 ChlorineGenerator (a small piece of equipment that makes water safe to drink, pictured above) to run six times each day, making thousands of gallons of safe drinking water available to these communities. Thirteen additional communities will be receiving this same gift of safe water in 2023.
Thank you Empresa Pública del Agua for your diligent work and your valuable partnership. It is an honor to entrust our vision of saving lives with safe water in such capable hands.
Help bring safe water to Ecuador!
Our Projects in Ecuador
La Fortuna in Guayas Province
San Pablo in Los Rios Province
Lechugal de Arriba in The Rivers Province
Mollepamba in Tungurahua Province
Santa Rosa De Totoras in Bolivar Province
San Felipe in Los Rios Province
El Batán in Guayas Province
Barranco Alto in Guayas Province
La Veinte Mil in Guayas Province
Paraíso Escondido in Pichincha Province
San José de Saloya in Pincincha Province
Tablada de Sánchez in Manabí Province
Palmar in Manabí Province
Coyoctor in Cañar Province
La Unión Guayas Province
El Suspiro in Santa Elena Province
El Guayabo in El Oro Province
El Triunfo in Bolivar Province
Animas de Malvar in Los Rios Province
Bocana de Lagarto in Esmeraldas Province
Community Transformation:
Uganda
WaterStep assisted Field Consultant, Jude Mugema, in the construction of a rain catchment system for his community in the District of Rakai, Uganda. Prior to the system being built, the women and children in the village had to walk 3.7 miles to a water source that was contaminated to retrieve water for their families each day. Many times, more than one trip was required in order to bring enough water back. This left little time for the children to go to school.
The structure was built and the community’s water problems were solved. However, Jude didn’t stop there. The community also had a need for a school, and the rain catchment structure was a large open building with a roof and no walls. Jude has worked diligently adding walls, doors and windows on the outside, and creating classrooms on the inside, for what is now the Sunrise Academy Junior School – Rakai.
Help bring safe water to Uganda!
Refugee Camps, Nigeria
Families fleeing from Boko Haram insurgents are finding a home at Refugee Camps in Nigeria. WaterStep’s Nigerian partners, Victims of Violence is caring for the displaced in Nigeria. After coming to Louisville seeking help with water issues they face in the camps, they were trained and are now deploying WaterStep equipment and teaching leaders in the camps to be safe water distributors. In addition, WaterStep’s new BleachMaker is very important as it is used for disinfectant in mobile medical clinics and surgical units. We will continue to send equipment and train Nigerians to care for the over 1,000,000 displaced people. Other completed or current projects in West Africa include Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, and Senegal.
Help bring safe water to refugees in Nigeria!
Liberia
Andrew Gardour and his team of 11 have jumped many hurdles to get their water project off the ground. Lack of internet (for training purposes and communication with WaterStep headquarters), lack of tanks, lack of money and now lack of rain have stalled this project many times. However, the team keeps overcoming the problems with fierce determination. Their community assessment showed that 70% of children in this community have suffered from Cholera, a waterborne illness that can be deadly to those who are already dehydrated. When you have a lack of water you prioritize your supply and often hand washing falls to the bottom of the list. Washing hands alone can decrease the cases of diarrhea by 45%. Other completed or current projects in West Africa include Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Senegal.
Help Bring safe water to Liberia!