Hundreds of Medical Staff and Patients will Now Have Access to Clean Water Each Year
A team from EDGE Outreach, a Louisville-based organization that provides clean drinking water to developing communities and disaster environments around the world, just completed the installation of a water sanitation system at Bethany Hospital in Shillong, N.E. India, where hundreds of medical staff and patients will now have access to clean water. Kurtis T. Daniels, Vice-President and Director of Training & Field Operations for EDGE, led the team that worked closely with hospital engineering staff and locals to train them on maintenance of their existing iron removal system and the installation of two EDGE M-100 Chlorine Generators. The two water sanitation systems will provide Bethany Hospital with up to 60,000 liters of safe water each day, making this the largest single-site project ever completed by EDGE.
Previously, the hospital’s water source was not being treated properly and it was being stored in a contaminated concrete cistern full of iron particulate. After completing testing and gathering data, Daniels supervised the cleaning and repairs of the hospital’s existing equipment. The 14′ long x 12′ wide x 14′ deep concrete cistern was emptied, cleaned and inspected. Then, the team was able to refill the cistern with water and “shock” chlorinate the cistern with chlorine generated by the two new M-100 Chlorine Generators, using salt (sodium chloride) purchased locally in Shillong, N.E. India and two 240v AC / 12v DC transformers.
“I was invited to Bethany Hospital to consult with the staff leaders about some of their water issues, and it quickly became apparent that they were not using their iron removal system as it was designed to be used,” says Daniels. “After a few days of evaluating the situation and researching solutions, I came up with a plan and discussed it with David Sailo, Hospital Administrator, and his father Dr. John Sailo, Hospital Owner. They were both very excited about the simplicity of the solution, and wanted to know if it was possible to pull off the plan in my remaining time in India. My answer was yes of course, so we got started right away. If I needed labor, an electrician, a welder, or anything else, they would arrange for it to happen within the hour. The Sailos realized the impact safe water would have in the hospital, so we all worked hard for eight days to make it happen.”
To learn more about EDGE and how you can help, call (502) 568-6342 or visit www.edgeoutreach.com.
About EDGE Outreach
EDGE Outreach is a Louisville based 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to bring clean drinking water to developing communities and disaster environments around the world. They work every day to put an end to the global water crisis by training and empowering ordinary people to provide safe and sustainable water, sanitation, health, and hygiene solutions in their own communities. Since 2001, EDGE has impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in more than 23 countries, including Haiti, Kenya, India, Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica. When EDGE staff and volunteers travel to a developing community to build training centers and install purification systems, they also teach nationals how to diagnose their water problems, operate the purification system, repair broken hand pumps, and educate them on effective health and hygiene practices. EDGE is currently working to establish training centers around the world, including St. Louis, MO, India, Costa Rica, and Haiti. To learn more about EDGE Outreach and how you can help, call (502) 568-6342 or visit www.edgeoutreach.com.
*** In November of 2011, EDGE Outreach was recognized for their contribution to Louisville being selected to sign the Charter for Compassionate Cities. Out of the nearly 100 cities that have signed the Charter, on April 5, 2012, the Compassionate Action Network International named Louisville its model compassionate city. This acknowledgement has helped build momentum around EDGE’s team and the other local organizations who are currently working to establish Louisville as the International Water Capital of the World. To learn more about this initiative, call (502) 568-6342.
