Water for Humans Launches Humanitarian Mission to Bring Safe Drinking Water to Mexico

(prHWY.com) October 6, 2011 - Seattle, WA -- Seattle, WA - Water for Humans, a Seattle-based nonprofit social enterprise working to bring sustainable clean-water solutions to under-served populations worldwide, is scheduled to meet starting next week with Oaxaca (Mexico) Finance Secretary Gerardo Cajiga to draw up ambitious plans for clean-water solutions that could impact nearly 1 million people in Mexico.

"We are looking at possibly building a wastewater treatment plan, family eco-systems and storm water diversions in the Central Valley portion of the State of Oaxaca," said Rick McKenney, Co-founder and Executive Director of Water for Humans. "This series of meetings with Senor Cajiga will pave the way for Water for Humans to bring clean, safe drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people in Oaxaca. We're talking life-saving measures for scores of families."

Accompanying McKenney on this humanitarian trip are Stan Brown, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer at Water for Humans, and Dr. Firdaus Jhabvala of Natural Systems International/Biohabitats. Water for Humans is partnering with Instituto de la Naturaleza y la Sociedad de Oaxaca (INSO), a Nongovernmental Organization (NGO), to develop a strategy for drastically improving the water and sanitation situation in the State of Oaxaca.

In these high-level government meetings that commence on Oct. 10, Water for Humans wants to achieve two goals: secure a contract to develop a strategy for water and sanitation projects in Oaxaca's Central Valley, and secure funding for pilot projects. These clean-water solutions soon could be applied to the entire State of Oaxaca, McKenney added.

Among the water sanitation projects up for discussion with Secretary Cajiga are:
Black-water (raw) sewage treatment
Family eco-systems (rain catchment, gray water treatment, composting latrines, or ultra low volume toilets)
Reforestation
River and stream hydraulic jumps

Guiding these projects will be a comprehensive analysis--led by Water for Humans, on the state of water and sanitation in Oaxaca's Central Valley. The total budget for these water improvement projects for next year could reach as high as $100,000, excluding the wastewater treatment system, McKenney said.

###