In response to the 2004 Asian Tsunami, James (our Water Specialist) and several volunteers from Singapore made half a dozen trips to Sri Lanka. With the generous support of many individuals, over 5,000 people in several dozen communities were provided with a means of obtaining their own safe drinking water.

Teams of volunteers in each community were trained in the assembly and maintenance of both the portable and GSC filters, so they could provide ongoing assistance to their community’s recipients.

As filters were allocated, communities and family members were trained how to properly use and maintain the units.

                                                    To provide drinking water, the Singapore teams worked with a network of Sri Lankan volunteers to distribute portable ceramic water filters (which were purchased from Europe by donated funds).

The Tsunami dirtied and contaminated the water supplies of practically every community within a few kilometers of the coast.  For the affected well or surface water to be drinkable, the water needed to be filtered to remove sediment, bacteria and viruses.

To lengthen the life of the ceramic filters, simple gravel, sand & charcoal (GSC) filters were given as well. The GSC filters were assembled by volunteers using basic supplies purchased in Sri Lanka. GSC filtered water is clean and suitable for bathing and general household washing.

For the GSC filtered water to be drinkable or used for cooking, it needed to be filtered by ceramic filters. Thus, each family or small community received both a GSC filter and a portable ceramic filter.

From GREEN...

To CLEAN!

It was this disaster relief work in Sri Lanka eventually that led to the establishment of our organization.