In Rotary, the RI Theme for March is Water and Sanitation.
(Look closely - Is that Stan Malcolm in this photo?) -Rotary Club of Stratford's Aquabox Project
Aquaboxes are a project unique to the Rotary Club of Stratford, which tries to keep a supply of them on hand to ship to disaster zones around the world. The Aquabox unit contains multiple self disinfecting silver impregnated ceramic cartridges (Filters). These filters are attached inside a receiving container into which the contaminated water is introduced.
The filter system is designed to trap and kill harmful bacteria >99.99999% ( E.coli, Coliform, Faecal Coliform), >99.95 % protozoan cysts (Giardia, Cryptosporidium) and filter particulates as small as 0.3 MICRONS (99.9%) The ceramic cartridges are cleanable and reusable.
This top container, with the filters, is attached to the lid of the receiving container which is equipped with a tap for dispensing the now potable water. The connection is designed to prevent any introduction of other contaminants into the lower container. (As required by the World Health Organization’s guidelines).
The system is capable of providing potable water for a family of 5 for up to one year. It is light, portable and easy to use until other sources of potable water are available.
The distributors of the Aqabox system, to the recipient’s families, are qualified personnel who instruct in the proper assembly and use at the site of the disaster.
For information on the Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action Group, please click on Read More...
WASRAG
The Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action Group (WASRAG) was formed in 2007 by a group of Rotarians, recognized by Rotary International, and focused on WASH projects. Since then it has facilitated many hundreds of projects – helping clubs find partners, ensuring sustainability, stressing the importance of a needs-driven approach, and developing best practices. We encourage a holistic, integrated approach in which water is not the end in itself, but is rather the means to a better life and livelihood in the community. Most importantly, WASRAG links water and sanitation to improved hygiene, better health, and empowerment of the community – especially women, irrigation and agriculture, education and literacy and, ultimately, child mortality.
Mission Statement
Providing human, technical and financial support to Rotary clubs and districts seeking to help communities to gain sustainable access to water, sanitation and hygiene.
WASRAG Goals:
- Access and connect with experts in WASH
- Provide technical guides for all stages of WASH projects including program life cycle
- Seek funding outside the Rotary domain to complement internal resources
- Facilitate connections with other organizations sharing Rotary goals
- Alert Rotarians to the availability of expertise and financial resources
- Identify and share Rotary and other resources available to Rotarians.
- Assist and enable clubs to seek support from other clubs, from TRF and beyond Rotary
- Ensure clubs can learn of the needs of other clubs
- Maintain and build a collaborative working relationship with RI and TRF
- Implement appropriate processes to monitor and evaluate the impact , efficacy and sustainability of Rotary projects and programs
- Facilitate the exchange of idea and information