Living Waters for the World
Living Waters for the World (LWW) is a mission resource of the Synod of Living Waters of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Its goal is to train and equip mission teams to empower local leaders to provide clean water to communities in need across the globe. LWW water systems and related educational programs address the niche in world water provisioning in which communities have adequate available but contaminated water.
Ideal installation locations for LWW systems include clinics, churches, schools, orphanages, community centers, hospitals in areas with available but contaminated water.
Train the trainer: Every effort is made by LWW to ensure that operating partners (local, in-country partners) lead health, hygiene & Spiritual Education and construct the clean water system, and that initiating partners (typically U.S.-based partners) teach and supervise. A relationship for a minimum of three years is established, involving four or more trips.
History
The Living Waters for the World project was first conceived in the early 1990s by Wil Howie, a psychologist-turned-minister who believed that the Synod of Living Waters of which he is a member, could literally bring life-saving, "living" waters to people in need throughout the world.
Through 2003, Wil and a small band of dedicated installers were able to install AbOUT 11 systems. Recognizing that at this rate they would not be able to significantly impact the growing water needs of the countries in which they were ACTIVE, Wil and others hit upon the idea of training and equipping others to do these installations. Clean Water U was started in 2003, and the number of systems installed per year has grown every year since that point.
From this humble beginning, Living Waters for the World clean water systems have been installed at more than 265 sites in 19 countries: Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Kenya, Madagasgar, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Philippines, Thailand, United States (Appalachia) and Venezuela.
Clean Water U
The training school for Living Waters for the World, Clean Water U is located deep in the woods of Hopewell Camp and Conference Center outside of Oxford, Mississippi. Clean Water U is a simulation experience designed to equip mission teams with the skills necessary to form partnerships with communities in need of clean water, equip local leaders to lead ongoing health, hygiene and spiritual education and install the Living Waters for the World clean water system.
These learning objectives are taught in three separate courses which run concurrently during a five-day session. A church/organization typically sends three or more representatives - at least one for each class. These courses are:
- CWU 101: Fundamentals of Team Leadership, Water Testing and Partnership Development
- CWU 102: Water Health, Hygiene and Spirituality Training
- CWU 103: Water Treatment System Construction and Maintenance
Graduates of Clean Water U are equipped to serve as team leaders in subsequent water-focused mission trips. Graduates are also eligible to acquire all system parts, curriculum and related materials necessary for successful completion of these trips.
The number of Clean Water U sessions offered each year has grown steadily since the first session was offered in the spring of 2004. These sessions are open to people of any faith tradition or community service orientation. A per student fee is assessed to subsidize the cost of materials, facilities, lodging and meals.
Water treatment systems
A modular approach is used in the design of these community-sized water treatment systems. This provides a configurable solution to meet the specific needs of a partner.
The basic, or "standard" LWW water treatment system is designed as a batch treatment process with an integrated water bottling station for distribution of bottled water throughout a community. The process capacity for a single batch is typically about of treated water per cycle, with a processing time of approximately one hour. Processing consists of three stages of filtration, from 0.5 to 50 micrometres, followed by ozonation for bacteriological disinfection. The installation cost for a standard LWW system is about $2800, and operation costs are on the order of a penny per US gallon ($2.6 per m³).
In cases where the water source is particularly hard, or where the water has high levels of total dissolved solids or heavy metals, a standard LWW treatment system may not be appropriate. Such conditions are found, for example, in places such as the Yucatan Peninsula, where limestone karst and saltwater intrusion lead to high levels of TDS. For conditions such as these, the standard water treatment system is augmented with a water softener and a reverse osmosis treatment system. These additions necessarily increase the installation cost by several thousand dollars. Operational costs also increase, due to increased electrical usage and increased consumables. These systems also may not be appropriate for situations where source water scarcity is an issue, since the RO process generates a significant amount of wastewater.
In addition to community sized water treatment systems, LWW has also developed single-family sized systems for use in areas such as Appalachia where coal mining may have produced acid mine drainage that has contaminated local water sources. These systems may use the treatment components outlined above, and may also employ green sand filters with potassium permanganate to remove iron and hydrogen sulfide from the water.
Networks
As the number of LWW treatment systems -- particularly systems in close geopolitical proximity -- has grown, the idea of grouping these systems and their partners into mutually supportive networks has taken hold. Networks pair a LWW coordinator in the US with a coordinator in a specific geographical area or international region to match US partners with International partners to:
- create viable LWW projects,
- promote maintenance of the relationship during the covenant period,
- be aware of the status of all systems in the network area,
- facilitate access to materials and expertise necessary to maintain those systems in good order.
LWW Networks communicate with LWW and each other via a Network Steering Group, composed of the US Coordinators of all networks, the LWW Director, and the moderator of the LWW Committee. As of mid-2008, seven networks exist or are in development with more under consideration. These include networks in: Appalachia, Chiapas (Southern Mexico), Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and Yucatan.
Network |
Size (2008) |
Description |
|---|---|---|
Appalachia |
26 |
The Appalachian network is currently active in two communities, Buffalo Creek and Viking Mountain, near Jellico and Greeneville Tennessee, respectively. As of mid-2008, there are 16 installations in Viking Mountain and 9 in Buffalo Creek. Installations in the US are single family units instead of community units, to comply with United States Environmental Protection Agency regulations. Challenges in the Appalachia region include treatment of groundwater contaminated by coal mining and oil/gas recovery, low flow water sources (groundwater and springs), and high iron content that hampers standard treatment processes for other contaminants. These systems are installed in partnership between local and area Presbyterian churches and the community members impacted by bad water conditions. The short range goal is to expand the installation activities into Kentucky in 2008/2009 timeframe, through use of Federal USDA Rural Development funding in combination with administrative support from a regional non-profit (Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties) and additional financial support from Rotary International. In the longer term, it is hoped to expand these serives across the Appalachia region to any community in need of water treatment systems. |
Chiapas, Southern Mexico |
11 |
The network in Chiapas is just beginning to become organized. There are currently 11 systems installed in communities in the southern portion of Chiapas along the Guatemala border. The first of those systems was installed in 2006. Systems have been installed in churches, orphanages, schools and community centers. The network will be expanded to become the "Southern Mexico Network" as plans are being finalized with eight communities in the states of Oaxaca and Veracruz to install water systems in early 2009. |
Dominican Republic |
7 |
While the first system was installed in 2006, the Dominican Republic network is currently still in the formative stages. Because of its relative proximity to the US, influence of baseball, and extensive travel to the US, the Dominican people have an affinity to the US. The country provides an excellent opportunity for LWW in that the need is great, potential operating partners are available, and the infrastructure is adequate to install and maintain systems. It is hoped that the DR experiences significant growth in LWW systems over the next few years. |
El Salvador |
6 |
The El Salvador network began in 2005 and to date operates primarily though Trinity Presbyterian Church of Starkville, MS. Because the Presbyterian Church does not have a large presence in El Salvador, Peace Corps volunteers act as scouts and translators, and are working with community groups called ADESCOs to provide water systems. The ADESCOs are organized by local people and chartered by the government for the purpose of 'Community Development'. In many communities, the main task of the ADESCO is either water or public health, since these are pressing problems for which there is not much governmental action. The advantage of working with the ADESCO is that it has a life beyond just the water project. The disadvantage is that the members are elected volunteers. Sometimes the ADESCO becomes dormant, or an election make it hard to identify the new leaders. The oldest system in El Salvador has made over 168,000 gallons of treated water for its community. The network hired an emeritus Peace Corps Volunteer in 2008 to visit the systems and act as translator and liaison. It has found in-country sources for all of the system parts except the ozonator and the filter cartridges. |
Guatemala |
38 |
The first clean water system in Guatemala was installed in March 2004 and as of the end of June 2008, there are 38 units installed by 25 teams in 12 of the 22 departments in Guatemala – reaching from the very northwest corner of the country to the mid-central part of the country east of the capital city. In addition to units installed in churches, units have been installed in clinics, schools and orphanages throughout the country. Efforts are underway to bring these locations into compliance with governmental regulations for operation of clean water processing systems and to comply with health department regulations that will allow the locations to sell water in their communities. These efforts are somewhat complicated because some functions are controlled by the municipalities and others are controlled by government agencies located in Guatemala City and require personal appearances to process the paperwork. LWW works with Habitat-Guatemala the director of which attended Clean Water U in 2007 and declared that he wanted to have a Living Waters for the World clean water system installed in each new Habitat colonia as it is established from that point on. Two such units have been installed to date with future installations dependent upon the completion of new colonias. Habitat-Guatemala is the largest international partner of Habitat for Humanity having built over 25,000 new homes since it was established in 1979 and with the goal of having 50,000 houses completed by 2012. |
Haiti |
8 |
The Living Waters network in the Republic of Haiti was established in 2008 to coordinate, train and create sustainability for the rapidly growing treatment plants located there. Little Brothers of Saint Therese (LBST) and OCDES (Organization, Communication, Development, Education and Social) are the two main non profits though which most of our communication and money is channeled. LBST is a Catholic order that has 16 houses and 75 brothers scattered in various parts of Haiti. OCDES is in charge of operating over 40 Episcopalian schools with 14,000 school children. They also oversee the operation of Living Waters plants located at these schools. A warehouse has been established in country to provide backup parts for all the existing and future treatment plants. As of mid-2008, five Haitians have been trained at Clean Water U; they can go to a treatment facility and attend to any need that may arise. Two more systems will come on line later in the year, and at least three systems are in early planning stages for the following year. Ayiti (Haiti) is often called the land where good intentions come to die. It is the poorest country in this hemisphere. There is very little potable drinking water in Haiti; the need for the services of organizations like Living Waters for the World is great. |
Honduras |
?? |
waiting for input... |
Nicaragua |
?? |
waiting for input... |
Yucatan |
44 |
The Yucatan Peninsula Network is the oldest and (currently) largest of the LWW networks, with 44 actively operating clean water systems installed by end of 2008. A covenant between the Synod of Living Waters (Presbyterian Church (USA)) and the Synod of the Peninsula (Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana de Mexico) has greatly facilitated the proliferation of this ministry in the area, as most of these are located in churches, and operated by the churches for the benefit of their communities. Systems in the peninsula differ somewhat from those in most other parts of the world, because the water is exceedingly salty and hard, and requires the addition of softening and reverse osmosis to the basic configuration. In some communities, the systems are serving over 1,000 people, and incidence of disease has been markedly reduced. In 2006, the first-ever "Continuing Education Seminar for LWW System Operators" was held in Merida, Mexico. Attended by 60 Mexican operators of systems in the peninsula, it was such a success that a second seminar was held in 2007 (attendance 80), and another will be held in November 2008. All systems in the peninsula are now in compliance (or working toward compliance) with local health department regulations, a step that is necessary in any case where the water is sold to the public. All necessary equipment is now supplied by a company in Campeche, Mexico, and delivered to each installation site, eliminating the need for the installing team to carry the equipment into the country; further, this local supplier is able to help with problems that arise with any of the systems there. This model is one that we would like to replicate in each network, if possible. A long-range goal for Living Waters for the World is to develop a Clean Water U in each network, and thereby train local folks to build and operate their own systems. This goal is closer to reality in the Yucatan peninsula than anywhere else, due in large measure to the relationship that has been developed through the churches. It May Be noted that this network, because it is not in the poorest region of the world, has been able to become established and grow in a way that may not have been possible in a less developed area of the world. However, having met with success at this level, it will be easier for LWW, with the help of those living in this area, to reach out to other parts of the world where there are fewer resources. This network is a step in that direction. |
The network model has proven effective at allowing LWW to expand the scope of its services while maintaining quality and responsiveness in providing clean water to communities in need. As installations expand into new parts of the world, networks will be developed to address them.
External links
- Living Waters for the World
- Synod of Living Waters
- The Presbyterian Church (USA)
- LWW on YouTube
- Wiser Earth