A Nice Cuppa

It is no secret to tea and coffee connoisseurs that clean water makes a difference to taste. But for many, clean water isn’t an option at all. This fact is one many people take for granted. When next brewing that cup of tea or coffee from a safe water source, consider this: according to the World Health Organization more than 1 billion people lack safe water and as a result more than 4,000 children die daily of water related diseases and deficiencies (this statistic is from a 2004 study, more recent results are showing an increase to almost 6,000 daily deaths).

Proctor and Gamble has been developing technologies to purify water since 1995. Their efforts have resulted in the Pur Water Purifier, a powerful packet of powder that when added to water kills waterborne pathogens, thereby reducing the risk of diarrhea and diseases such as typhoid, cholera, dysentery. A single packet of Pur Water Purifier can yield 2.5 gallons of safe water and to date there have been more than 132 million gallons of water purified, 53 million gallons of which have been for emergency initiatives in developing countries such as Kenya and Haiti. The results of this purifier are pretty amazing, see for yourself at Proctor and Gamble’s Health Sciences Institute. They provide a summary of their technology and progress and provide a library of videos so people may see first hand the technology and its benefits at work.

There are two ways to support this initiative:

1. Make a financial contribution to PSI, one of Proctor and Gambles allies in the Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program. PSI is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. that “harnesses the vitality of the private sector to address the health problems of low-income and vulnerable populations in more than 60 developing countries” (as stated on the PSI website).

2. Purchase a Pur water filtration product and Proctor and Gamble will donate a percentage of the proceeds to the Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program. Keep in mind, Proctor and Gamble’s donation will be capped at $100,000.

UPDATE 3/6/08… there is 3rd way to support this initiative!  Roberta, A Nice Cuppa reader just brought it to our attention (see her comment below).  Thanks Roberta! Proctor & Gamble is donating a liter of PUR water for every friend you “splash” with an email through their special web-page. Go ahead and send a splash, it costs nothing, takes a few moments of time and helps education others about this very important program.