International Medical Corps plans to pilot the DayOne Waterbag, a point-of-use water treatment apparatus for disaster-stricken vulnerable communities. The DayOne Waterbag, coupled with the Procter & Gamble Water Purifying Packets, has the ability to prevent the spread of diseases such as cholera. This microproject will fund the production of the initial 200 Waterbags, commencing the pilot.
When disasters strike vulnerable communities, the drinkable water supply is often disrupted, putting entire communities at risk of contracting diseases such as cholera. It is almost a certainty that overcrowding in affected areas combined with little clean water and poor sanitation will result in outbreak of disease.
This water purification program will fill the gap between disaster and relief by providing communities with the resources to purify their own water using a simple point-of-use treatment. International Medical Corps will pilot the Waterbags in flood-prone areas such as Sudan, South Sudan, and Kenya, working with communities to stock Waterbags as well as providing instruction on Waterbag usage.
The Waterbag has the potential to be transformational in the face of disasters for vulnerable communities. In a catastrophe of the magnitude of Haiti's earthquake, the Waterbag can provide clean, drinkable water for individuals and communities directly affected by the disaster; in addition, local and national governments and first responders such as NGOs can preposition the Waterbag in preparation for a disaster, providing valuable support for themselves and the community.