Nepal Earthquake Recovery: Clean Drinking Water

In response to the earthquakes in Nepal in April, you placed your trust in Splash. You donated to secure clean water as swiftly and effectively as possible. Immediately following the earthquakes, Splash focused on:

1. Assessing all 171 Splash sites (schools, orphanages, shelters and a hospital that were functional pre-earthquake);
2. Repairing immediate needs, where possible; and
3. Distributing water (from school sites to their surrounding communities).

The initial assessments of Splash sites were completed by Splash staff within a few weeks of the first shock - approximately the same amount of time it took many international aid organizations to mobilize and send people to Nepal. Splash operated from within its core mission framework and areas of expertise to quickly assess and repair water projects, where possible, and provide large volumes of clean water (a critical area of need) to displaced community members who sought refuge at their neighborhood schools.

We found that:

1. 65% of Splash water projects remained fully functional following the earthquake. This was a testament to the high quality and durability of our water filtration systems, drinking and handwashing stations and plumbing and installation work.
2. 25% of Splash project sites were assessed to have "minor" damage (meaning, requiring one day or less of repair work).
3. 4% of sites incurred "moderate' damage (1+ days of repair work needed).
4. 6% incurred "significant" damage.

Even though some sites had damage, we were thrilled to learn that no Splash filtration systems were permanently damaged. Splash is happy to report that the majority of the repair work was completed by July. As of August, 125 were functional again.

The lasting quality of our materials and work means that we needed much less money than forecasted to get our projects back up and running. Instead of continuing to raise money, we are focusing instead on stewarding what has been graciously given and continuing the work of getting clean water to kids.

You joined with others in helping Splash raise funds and implement critical recovery activities to secure clean water for kids and their communities. Today in urban Kathmandu, you can't find water cleaner than that filtered by Splash, thanks to you. From the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes, analysts identified water and hygiene as among the greatest threats. You helped Splash intervene in a timely, effective, and sustainable way.

Thank you.