April 28, 2005

Freeport - The Rotary Club of Freeport recently announced one of the largest international projects in the club's history. The Club has adopted the village of Santa Barbara, Honduras in a campaign to provide clean water to each household in the village.

In the United States, potable water is readily available to all citizens. Populations in developing countries are not so fortunate, however, with 1.2 billion of the world's people having no access to clean drinking water. In Honduras alone, 50,000 children die each year as a result of dehydration and malnutrition due to intestinal ailments caused by contaminated water.

Researchers at the University of Calgary and Dartmouth College have developed an inexpensive household water purification system that can be constructed from simple materials without the need for any chemicals. These systems use a series of sand filters that remove bacteria and other contaminants and can provide drinkable water to meet the daily needs of an average family.

The Rotary Club of Freeport has joined with Pure Water for the World, a nonprofit organization based in Rutland, Vermont in undertaking this project.

The Club needs to raise $50,000 to meet their goal of providing over 500 filters to the people of Santa Barbara. Members of The Rotary of Freeport as well as student members of the Freeport High School 's Interact Club will travel to Honduras to provide hands-on assistance in constructing and installing the systems. Fundraising is underway, and several other Maine Rotary clubs have already pledged financial assistance. The Rotary Club of Freeport would be delighted to accept donations from individuals and businesses.

For more information, visit the club Web site at www.freeport-rotary.org or contact:

Bob Hanson
Phone: 207-688-2265
Fax: 207-688-3304
Email: purewater@freeport-rotary.org

Gordon Glover (far left), a Rotary Club of Freeport member, examines a water filter component with Carolyn Meub of Vermont and several Honduran Rotarians in Honduras