In January 2003, Rotarians Bob Moles of Bellingham, Washington and Carolyn Crowley Meub of Rutland, Vermont toured the north coastal region surrounding the city of La Ceiba to identify sites for future water projects. Working with Tony Stone, Executive Director of Adelante Foundation, a micro-credit lending organization dedicated to improving the standard of living of the poorest of the poor, they identified numerous communities that did not have access to sources of clean drinking water. Thanks to Adelante's assistance, they were given the opportunity to meet with a large group of Adelante's borrowers. From that meeting, the rural community of Lucinda was identified. This village has significant water problems and community leaders have volunteered to spearhead this project.

Project Goals

• Provide sustainable potable water to rural communities surrounding La Ceiba
• Develop a filter manufacturing facility
• Manufacture and install 5,000 filters over the next 3 years
• Develop funding to support project by June, 2003

Project Basics:

• The village of Lucinda has been selected to be the first community to receive filters.
• Lucinda is remotely located approximately 40 km east of La Ceiba.
• The slow sand filter is used because it is the least expensive purification method to produce, can be maintained at no cost inside any dwelling and is a "low tech" treatment action that requires no electricity, no running water, no moving parts or any other inputs.
• A slow sand filter manufacturing facility will be set up in La Ceiba, training support to come from the existing facility in Danli, Honduras.
• A project supervisor and other staff from the La Ceiba area will be hired and trained.
• Each family will be offered the chance to buy their own household sand filter at a discounted affordable price.
• A community education component will be developed and an evaluation procedure established to determine and monitor the effectiveness of the filter.
• A critically important health component will be developed with local health officials.

How Rotary Clubs or Individuals can help:

• Become a "Pure Water Partner" by making a tax deductible donation to Pure Water for the World
• $24,000 purchases an in-country 4 wheel drive truck
• $10,000 ADOPT-A-VILLAGE purchase household filters for a small rural village
• $1,600 buys a portable lab analysis kit
• $450 buys a filter manufacturing mold
• $150 purchases a household filter that will provide a family with clean water for a lifetime

Note: The $24,000 purchase of an in-country 4-wheel drive truck together with other project start-up costs are one time needs. The remaining four contribution guidelines listed pertain to on-going costs of the fully operational project.