Over 110,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) has fled from the LTTE controlled areas and reached to the government-controlled districts in Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Jaffna and Mannar. Summer temperatures and overcrowding in IDP camps mean that water and sanitation are now a top priority for the government and humanitarian agencies on the ground. To meet this priority GRASSROOTS FOUNDATION (GRF) is putting in place water purifiers to give the civilians clean drinking water and appeal to the public to support the supply of water purification systems.

Presently IDPs are given a bottle of water per day which will result over 100,000 empty plastic bottles thrown and this could become a mountain of plastic waste material and it will affect to the environment. Above all drinking water will prevent diseases such as Leptospirosis, cholera, and other water borne diseases and kidney diseases. Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by a particular type of bacteria called a spirochete. Leptospirosis can be transmitted by many animals such as rats, skunks, opossums, raccoons, and other vermin. It is transmitted though contact with infected soil or water. The soil or water is contaminated with the waste products of an infected animal. People contract the disease by either ingesting contaminated food or water or by broken skin and mucous membrane contact with the contaminated water or soil.

Grassroots Foundation has carefully evaluated IDPs unique need before launching this project. Within the current situation, the water purification system is the best solution for provide clean, safe drinking water. This durable water purification system may be an appropriate tool for emergency relief as well as reduce diseases.

Shipping Dimensions and Weights:

The living water treatment system includes four cages of dimensions shown below:

Cage #1 and #2, are empty tanks used for water storage. The approximate of each of these tanks is 150 pounds(68 kg). When filled with water, the weight per tank is 2200 pounds(998 kg). Cage #3 contains the filters and component parts and weighs approximately 700 pounds(318 kg). Cage #4 contains the diesel generator, electric pump and chemicals and weighs approximately 500 pounds(227 kg).

The below picture shows the dimensions of each cage:

The cages are stackable and when stacked two high the 4 cages side by side have the below dimensions:

How you can help through Grassroots Foundation?

Grassroots foundation has been actively working both emergency relief and community development through various type of activities. GRF has provided emergency assistance to the displaced since Tsunami.
Please join GRF's effort to bring the gift of clean, safe drinking water to IDPs in urgent need. The cost of this kind of purification system is approximately $ 27,000. Gift of $10 and above will help GRF to improve the lives of IDPs in danger.

Donate For WATER