CLEAN WATER SOLUTIONS FOR THE BIG ISLAND ON WORLD WATER DAY (MAR 22)

As part of a humanitarian effort for the upcoming UN sanctioned World Water Day (March 22), The Waterbearers and partner Waves For Water will provide water filters and sustainability training to those looking for a simple economic solution to keep their drinking water safe (in Hawaii). Filters being donated are part of The Waterbearers fundraising efforts. Each $50 donation can provide clean water to 100 people a day and can last a decade. Waves For Water currently distributes the clean water systems using the Sawyer Point One Filter, including sustainability training in 40 countries.

There is something very basic and fundamental about people from all over the world who decide to cut ties with the mainland, or their mother country, and relocate to rural areas like the Big Island of Hawaii. They chose to start over and live a sustainable and simple life to provide for their families. Many live off the grid. This is not a selfless act, but one of love for the Planet and Mother Earth.

While some will view this as going “backward” – many of these people are forward thinkers, who make their own decisions in a utopian society.

Utopia (/juːˈtoʊpiə/) is a community or society possessing highly desirable or perfect qualities. The word was coined in Greek by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book Utopia, describing a fictional island society in the Atlantic Ocean.

EVERYONE NEEDS CLEAN WATER, EVEN IN AMERICA!

According to one resident Andrea Lee Peace, “much of South Hawaii presently does not have access to county water lines. Even where municipal water lines are accessible … it can be difficult and expensive to run a water line to hook up to a meter at a distribution point. Most people must rely on a catchment system to collect water. There are very few wells in the region and only dug at great expense through the solid lava. Permanent streams are not found in this area. That leaves catching rain and/or hauling water via trucks or containers the only option.”

Note: The state considers the use of catchment water to be a personal responsibility, and it does NOT consider containment water to be potable (drinkable).

Add to that the arrival of the Rat Lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantenosis), a parasite carried from SE Asia to Hawaii by rats as a host and transferred to slugs and snails, and it is a recipe for disaster. Humans pick up the parasite by ingesting slugs, slug slime, contaminated fruits and vegetables, uncooked food and Water. Cases of eosinophilia meningitis have risen sharply in Hawaii over the past 5 years, and studies show that 75% of slugs collected on the Big Island are infected with the parasite.

The Waterbearers

The Waterbearers is a movement who inspire women who have clean water, to get it to those who do not. Waterbearer members are currently running a 30-day fundraising campaign to Help One Million People Get Access To Clean Water by World Water Day www.thewaterbearers.org with 100% of proceeds going directly to Waves For Water a 501(c)(3).

With the incredible need for clean water around the world, we decided to bring it back home this World Water Day, delivering clean water solutions to anyone in need in the United States.