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EPA Staff and Industry Partner to Aid Tsunami Victims
EPA is working with Proctor and Gamble to provide tsunami victims with desperately needed clean drinking water.
In an effort to help alleviative the tremendous humanitarian crisis in Southeast Asia, EPA science fellow, Jeff Albert began working with Procter and Gamble (P&G), AmeriCares, and the American Jewish World Service to deliver packets of a water purification product from P&G to tsunami victims in desperate need of clean water. The packets are filled with "PUR" Water Purifier, an inexpensive but extremely effective disinfectant powder which can purify even the poorest quality waters in a matter of minutes. The goal is to deliver 4 million units to the disaster areas, which would provide 40 million liters of freshwater, enough to sustain roughly 285,000 people for a month.
This effort began from ongoing research efforts by many dedicated EPA research and development staff including Dr. Albert in cooperation with Procter and Gamble employees. EPA scientists were aware of this PUR product from work they have been doing to explore ways to protect and improve water quality in the U.S. and in developing countries.
Dr. Albert and his team plan to travel to Sumatra where he will join a team consisting of the International Rescue Committee, Save the Children, and others to help oversee the distribution and utilization of a shipment of the PUR packets.
More information about Procter and Gamble's emergency relief efforts. 