Safe Drinking Water

Initiated by Global Health and Education Foundation(GHEF), the Safe Drinking Water project is a non-profitable program that addresses safe drinking water issues in the rural areas of China, with the joint efforts of China Foundation for Disabled Persons(CFDP) and Chinese Academy of Science (CAS). Yangzhuang

Implemented since December 2006, the project aims to eliminate water-related diseases and disability for future generations by setting up water purification systems in identified problem area and providing purified water to local community.

The three-party cooperation has laid a solid foundation for the water project. GHEF brings its sustainability project management expertise and provides funding for purification water systems and spare parts for the first three years. CAS provides all the technical support, including identifying problem area, analyzing water quality, defining water treatment process, and conducting project scientific research. CFDP is responsible for the project execution as it has mature local project practice.

Pilot Project

The first project located in Shanyin County, Shanxi province of China, is a typical area in rates of fluorosis and arsenicosis. We selected appropriate water source in the village for water station, and housing facility for water purification systems were constructed and a water station was setup. ceremony During the trail period, the clean water will be provided to the villagers free of charge, and public sanitation education will be conducted. The purified water will be sold to the villagers at a reasonable price in regular operation, the revenue from the water sales will be used to keep the operation sustainable. The water station will be run by appointed disabled person.

On September 27 2007, the first water station was launched. It serves 215 households of 830 people within Yangzhuang village by providing clean purified water as well as promoting public health and sanitation education. Villagers are willing to carry water home, and use it for cooking, drinking, and for tea. Moreover, the water station also delivers clean water to school and old people home for free.

After the successful establishment of Yangzhuang water station, water stations in the other 5 villages is planned to be completed in the coming year. The three parties have decided, make every effort to expand water project to more counties and provinces, to let more people enjoy the happiness brought by safe drinking water.