Nearly every water source in Haiti – rivers, streams, springs and wells – is contaminated with human waste and disease.
Among 147 countries in the world, Haiti ranks last on the water poverty index scale according to the World Water Council (WWC). This means that Haiti is the country with the worst access to clean water in the world.
Haiti has the highest infant mortality rate in the Western Hemisphere and this is due to preventable waterborne diseases such as chronic diarrhea, typhoid and hepatitis.
There are no public sewage treatment or disposal systems anywhere in the country – even in the large cities. You can make a difference! A mere $100 can purify water of a household that doesn’t have access to clean water. Proceeds from the Reaching Farther Auction will purchase a water filtration unit for a family in Haiti.
The water purification system is simple! A clean plastic container holds five gallons of water. Inside is a filter that removes bacteria and other harmful elements from the water. Depending on how dirty the water is, the filter can last anywhere from one or two months to five. Families are able to drink water directly from the pour spout on the container without worrying that they will become ill from contaminants.
