Fund raising across Switzerland for an Eawag project

07 and 13 May 2007

Lions Clubs collect for Sodis

Every day about 6000 children die of diarrhoea due to contaminated drinking water. The efficiency and manner of application of the solar water disinfection process using PET bottles has been tested and confirmed by Eawag. However, since successful promotion and dissemination of this method cannot be covered by research funds, Lions Clubs are launching a national fund raising day on 12 May to support Sodis dissemination projects.

Lions Clubs Switzerland and Liechtenstein are raising money for Sodis on 12 May 2007. Instead of medals and cakes, they will be selling mineral water bottles for CHF 5.- to provide safe drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people in Latin America and Africa. Every 15 seconds a child dies of diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water. A total of 2.2 million people die every year – or almost one third of the Swiss population – as they lack what we take for granted: safe water! The UN therefore places top priority to making safe water accessible to a greater number of people.

Solar Water Disinfection (Sodis) is a simple but efficient method to inactivate the dangerous diarrhoea bacteria in contaminated water: A PET bottle is filled with water and exposed to sunlight for six hours. UV-A radiation and temperature improve the microbiological water quality and destroy the dangerous diarrhoea causing pathogenic microorganisms. The water is then safe for consumption. Martin Wegelin, Eawag’s Project Manager: “Several studies among Sodis users revealed a significant health improvement. The number of cases of diarrhoea dropped by 50%”. It is therefore important to raise the awareness of the local population for the interrelations between safe water and health prior to introducing the Sodis method. Eawag’s technical assistance to the local partners will ensure competent training of the households. Furthermore, the Eawag guarantees that the proceeds will be entirely used for Sodis dissemination projects. Lions are expecting to raise about 2 million Swiss francs.

• Over two Mio. CHF collected - Information from Lions (only in german)
  
• Information on Sodis