A total of 6,000 children die every day through water related illnesses. Aquabox can prevent some of these children from dying. To all who have contributed to the Aquabox Project by either buying a box, making a donation or filling a box, we thank you.
While the project originated through the Rotary Club of Eltham, other clubs have made significant contributions, and we would like to make particular reference to the Rotary Club of Casino.
When the project started in 2001, progress was rather slow, particularly in finding an aid agency willing to take the boxes to areas of need. However, over the past three years the word has spread, and countries from all over the world now benefit from the qualities of Aquabox. These countries are:
Nepal - 2001: Our first boxes were sent with a team of dentists to enable them to perform surgery with clean water. This is an application, which could be of immense help to doctors from Australia, who are performing surgery in developing countries.
East Timor - 2002: The Rotary
Club of Casino sent 25 Boxes.
Iraq 2003: The Rotary Club of Eltham sent 192 Standard boxes and six Aquabox 30s via World Vision to Iraq, these unfortunately are still in store in Iraq awaiting the security situation to improve so that they can be distributed.
Cambodia -2004: A medical team took one box
East Timor 2004: 25 boxes were sent by the Rotary Club of Casino.
Papua New Guinea - 2004: 25 were sent to Port Moresby PNG by the Rotary Club of Casino - in anticipation of an urgent need.
Niue 2004: 48 boxes were sent to Niue via W.F.P.A.P, following the cyclone earlier this year.
Chad 2004(for Sudan): 50 standard boxes will be going to Chad via World Vision.
Bangladesh 2004: The Rotary Club of Eltham recently air freighted 14 Aquabox 30s to an aid agency called SAFE, which is located in Dhaka. This agency will distribute these boxes, which will produce nearly 500,000 litres of drinkable water, to the people suffering severe problems because of water related illnesses after the floods.
Colombo Dec 2004: 19 Aquabox 30 airfreighted to Rotary Club Colombo Colombo Jan 2005: 20 Aquabox 30 airfreighted to R.C. Colombo Sri Lanka Jan 2005: World Vision sent 50 Standard Aquaboxes to Sri Lanka
Colombo Jan 2005: 50 Aquabox "3 "( 3 filters and 42 tablets ) together with Medical aid sent to Colombo by A.F.P.A. Colombo Feb 2005: 50 Standard Aquaboxes by container with D.I.K by AFAP to Colombo
Sri Lanka Feb 2005: Rotary Club of Casino 100 Standard Aquaboxes to Sri Lanka via A.F.A.P.
Sri Lanka March 2005: Rotary Club of Mackay 80 Special Aquaboxes ( no clothes ) to Sri Lanka via AFAP
Colombo June 2005: 100 Standard Aquaboxes to Colombo via AFAP
There are currently standard boxes in store in Melbourne, Casino N.S.W, and Kalamundra W.A.
While the Rotary Club of Eltham has a small amount of money in its account, there are not sufficient funds should there be a major disaster in our region, when air freight costs are so high. Therefore, it is imperative that clubs and individuals continue to support us.
It is our wish that schools within Australia support the project Aquabox by encouraging students to donate a gold coin towards purchasing one of these life-saving plastic boxes.
In addition, we would like every medical, and all our FAIM teams, to take an Aquabox with them when they travel overseas.
To find out more about Aquabox or to download promotional material, presentations or to subscribe to our regular news update, please click here to visit our website
We will send out a regular progress report to all our supporters. To make this more efficient, please send me an email if you are interested to receive these updates.
Gordon Birch
Rotary Club of Eltham
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Less than 1% of all water throughout the world is safe and available for human consumption.
Fresh water for drinking and food preparation is increasingly threatened due to our changing environment, and demand has intensified after vast population growth and the development of mega-cities internationally.
Disasters come in many forms; earthquake, cyclone, flood, refugee displacement, famine – but they all share a common factor. That is, the most urgent requirement is the supply of safe drinking water. The lack of, or disruption to safe water or sanitation creates an ideal breeding ground for water borne diseases. Cholera and Typhoid are the most virulent of these, but often the problem can be a simple infection causing diarrhea that leads to dehydration. This is particularly apparent for children where 25,000 children die every day from the effects of polluted water (Water-Aid Charity).
AQUABOX - The Solution
The standard AQUABOX has two key functions:
1. A filter and matching supply of water treatment tables enables 1,000 litres of polluted water to be purified, making it safe and pleasant to drink. Upon delivery to disaster areas, the AQUABOX is filled with a selection of clothing and/or other useful hardware items. 1,000 litres is equal to 5,000 cups of water to be distributed – enough for a group of four people to drink 10 cups per day over 4 months.
History of the AQUABOX Launched in 1992 by the Rotary Club of Wirksworth England, the AQUABOX project is administered by The Barrie Griffiths Trust (named in memory of former Rotarian Barrie Griffiths). The project has provided some 18,000 AQUABOXES to over 30 countries since it’s inception, experiencing enormous and sustained growth in 98/99 as a direct result of ‘Hurricane Mitch’ when over 10,000 AQUABOXES were shipped from UK in under three months.
More recently, Mozambique’s flood disaster saw Rotary provide over 20 million litres of clean water via the AQUABOX initiative. Features of the AQUABOX The AQUABOX comprises of three simple components:
1. a rigid container
2. a re-useable carbon activated filer (14 times re-useable)
3. dispensing tap. The container can be filled with water found in the appropriate local area and is initially strained through a muslin to remove solid detritus. A single 10 gram purification tablet (effervescent chlorine release type) is added and after two hours, drinkable water can be drawn through the filter and tap.
Exhaustively tested by an independent UK body, the AQUABOX is considered to be an exceptionally effective solution to providing clean water, meeting W.H.O. standards. The AQUABOX is unique in that it not only provides clean drinking water, but can also be delivered whilst holding other essential needs. Hardware items such as clothing, hygiene products or other utensils can be included. Easily transported, the AQUABOX is robust and can withstand rough treatment (including airdrop delivery), and being simple to operate, expertise is not required for clean water to be attained.
The UK Operation
The AQUABOX scheme is promoted to other organisations such as churches, Lions Clubs, Scouts etc. who order the boxes from the Rotary Club of Wirksworth. With their order, the donation is paid covering delivery, the box and its filter, tablets, survival bags and other relevant information.
The donors fill the boxes with recommended items and return the AQUABOX to the Rotary storage unit (this return delivery is covered in the donation payment). The AQUABOXes are stored until a request is received from one or more of the registered aid agencies who arrange their collection and delivery to the necessary disaster zone.
The Australian Operation
It is proposed that the Rotary club of Eltham (District 9790) set up a pilot scheme for the AQUABOX project to be coordinated and operated in Australia. The UK scheme has been a great success and following the basic guidelines of that operation, Australia’s potential could be equally effective. The Mission Statement for an Australian Operation would simply be: "To provide by means of the AQUABOX emergency supplies and a means of producing safe drinking water wherever needed in the world as a result of disasters of varying kinds.”
Where will the boxes go?
Wherever they are needed, but with a focus on countries closest to Australia such as South East Asia and Pacific Basin. There should however be no formal restrictions: UK sent boxes to PNG after the tidal wave disaster. It is anticipated that there will be no difficulty with any country accepting the AQUABOX as there are no political, racial or religious implications related to them. As well, import/export customs problems are not expected. Who has responsibility to get the boxes to the disaster zone? This will be done by the aid agencies. In UK agencies include: United Church, Methodist Church, Catholic Aid Abroad, Children’s Aid, etc. Contact has already been made with all leading Australian agencies, namely AusAid, Apheda, World Vision, E.M.A. Australia dn. Samaritans Purse. Their only question has been ‘When will the boxes be available’! How many boxes in the first year? On the basis of a pilot scheme run initially by district 9790, we estimate that we could have available 100 AQUABOXes in the first 12 months.
How many boxes in subsequent years?
Assuming the project is extended to each state and territory by the second year, there should be 500 boxes ready for shipment. Hereafter, the number of boxes available will be dependant on demand, however approximately 2,000 boxes nationally seems reasonable. These numbers are based on the UK experience. In 1999 over 5,000 boxes were shipped.
Their turnover had increased by 600% from the 1998 turnover figures. It would be reasonable to assume the figure for Y2K could be significantly increased. AQUABOX UK has recently ordered another 9,000 filters from manufacturer’s indicating this increased demand is being catered for. How large is the total market? With UK now in full steam and apparently USA about to begin a similar operation, an Australian operation would help give greater world coverage. Additionally, with improved world communications, news of disasters reaches us more quickly and we are therefore able to respond and offer assistance immediately. What would be Australia’s commitment? Australia would not work in isolation – rather in cooperation with UK and USA to provide world relief to disaster locations.
22 clubs in the district have expressed initial support of the project. These include: Strathmore- Gladstone Park, Bundoora, Greensborough, Benalla, Albury West, Pasco Vale, Belvoir- Wodonga, Corowa, Heidelberg, Kilmore- Broadford, Bendigo, Moreland, Craigieburn, Coburg, Mansfield, Broadmeadows, Wangaratta, Albury, Albury North, Wodonga West, Euroa, Ocean Grove, Shepparton, Camberwell. ·
Initial support and interest has been expressed by Australian Aid Agencies Weaknesses This is a long-term and ongoing project. It must be ascertained that commitment and enthusiasm to the project can and will be sustained in coming years.
Opportunities Service locally and internationally · Engaging community involvement with other organisations
Technology Expertise is not required in any way to operate this scheme – nor to use the AQUABOXes themselves.
Manufacturing
All required components have been sourced though some will be necessary to import from England short-term. The major items however are already being manufactured in Australia at very competitive prices. This includes the box itself, which has been quoted by Visqueen Plastics at a much lower cost than UK has been paying.
Costs
All components, freight and administration costs have been budgeted, based on minimal quantities. This cost analysis has also proven cheaper than the comparable UK prices.
Strategic Highlights It is believed that his project has so much potential and is vitally important that to run it as an individual club would not do justice to the program.
It is therefore proposed to: ·
Start a district 9790 pilot scheme · Encourage a club in each Australian State and territory to support the scheme To do either of these activities, financial assistance will be required either via a grant or loan to get the project off the ground. Please refer to further details under The Budget .
An Australian Plan It is difficult to quantify or budget for disasters, or statistically calculate lives at risk from lack of drinking water. Unfortunately, the growth in the number of boxes required will be predictable, as there will always be disasters of one nature or another. A realistic target can be set in the hope this scheme can make a small contribution in such circumstances.
