(Read John 4:7-13)

An Experimental Project To Provide Safe Drinking Water For Families

One of the most pressing widespread health needs in Ouanaminthe is clean safe drinking water. All water for household use is drawn from fairly shallow neighborhood wells. Tests have shown the presence of harmful bacteria, including E. coli, in the community water sources. Ateam from Pagosa Springs, Colorado with one member from Farmington, New Mexico, brought 50 simple water-filtration systems to the teachers and staff at Institution Univers. Each water drip system, made from two five-gallon plastic buckets fastened together, had both a cloth filter (for large particles) and a ceramic water filter that will filter out bacteria down to a halfmicron. Water is poured into the top bucket, runs through the filter, and drips into the clean bucket below, which is fitted with a discharge spout. The filtration process takes about four hours for five gallons of water. Each system can be easily assembled for use in a household, and costs around 25 U.S. dollars. The filters need to be replaced annually. So, cost are a significant issue for the poorest Haitians.

The systems were assembled and presented as a gift to the teachers and staff with instructions for use and maintenance. To remain effective, the replacement filters have to be purchased by the recipients. The teachers and staff listened intently to the instructions they were given, and were very appreciative to have a tool to produce “pure water”. Of course, the message of Christ’s “living water” was also shared, with the response of “Amen” and much nodding of heads!

The team from Pagosa Springs hopes to bring more of the simple bucket water purification systems to Ouanaminthe for use in the community. It is believed that, by starting with the teachers and staff at the school, word-ofmouth will produce a desire for these systems among the people, and soon many households will enjoy the benefits of “Pure Water, Living Water”. For more information about this simple water purification system, visit www.PureWaterLivingWater.com.