| Solve Their Waiter Problem re A lead ng global water technology provider is working to create water access products thatwill build stronger communities and change the socioeconomic landscapefor farmers and their families. (NAPSA)—Take a moment to reflect on how easily you access water every day: From just grabbing a bottle of water to throwing their clothes in the wash, most Americanstakeit for granted that water’s therefor all their needs. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American family of four can use 400 gallons of water every day. That’s unlike the 884 million peo- ple—almost three times the population of the United States—globally who lack access to clean water. Think about not being able to jump in the showeror run the tap for a cold, clean glass of water. Instead, you have no other option but to make an hours-long trek to a water supply. According to Water.org, in just one day, 200 million work hours are consumed by women collecting water for their families—equal to the time that it would take to build 28 Empire State Buildings. What’s Being Done The good news is that through the Essenceof Life program, a leading global water technology provider is working to “solve water” for those whoseaccess is limited. The company extensively tested rural water management pumping solutions throughout India, Africa, South America and Pan-Asia. Farmers were provided with field samples of manual pumps during traditional cropping seasons to achieve “real-life” testing. After weeks of usage, Xylem interviewed farmersto find out how well the manual pump systems worked. The feedback was very positive, including: “This is a very good pump”...“good water pressure” ... ‘never seen such a pump”...“cannot believe that a manual pump can give so much pressure”...“can easily carry on bicycle to fields.” Greater water pressure and simple transport meansless labor time; less labor time means more time to pursue other earning opportunities and more timefor farmers to spend with their families; in all, a better quality of life for smallholder farmers. What You Can Do There are many organizations you can support in a variety of ways. Volunteering your time, donating funds, even sharing information with your social networks can all make a difference. Learn More For more about the Essence of Life program, as well as an ongoing look at water issues across the globe, visit “The Ripple Effect” blog at www.EOLRippleEffect.com, visit on Facebook, and follow @Xylem EOL on Twitter and Pinterest.
