What do Oatey Co., American Valve and A. O. Smith have in common besides membership in the ASA? They are all partners with Living Waters for the World, working together to empower developing world communities to install and operate water-purification systems and conduct ongoing health education. “Basic technology – carbon filtration and disinfection in the form of ozone or UV – can literally change a community forever when combined with relationships that emphasize empowerment and self-sufficiency,” Living Waters for the World Executive Director Steve Young says. “We welcome all who believe that children deserve the opportunity to have clean water to drink no matter where they live, and we deeply appreciate our partnership with these wonderful companies.”
The life-changing work of Living Waters for the World first came to ASA’s attention in 2013, when A. O. Smith’s Dennis DeBlock provided a joint presentation with Young at PSDA. “You could have heard a pin drop in that room,” DeBlock remembers. “The sheer impact that something that we take for granted can have – dependable clean water –really hit home.”
Living Waters for the World and its trained all-volunteer teams had already installed more than 500 community water systems at the time of that 2013 PSDA conference, an impressive accomplishment. Now five years later, more than 900 water systems have been installed by hundreds of volunteer teams.
Oatey Co’s Bill Oatey knows of this firsthand, as he has participated on multiple Living Waters trips to Guatemala as part of his church’s water team. “There is no experience like the celebration in a community when clean water first flows. It’s an emotional moment, and it’s just the beginning of a whole new path for people who have become our brothers and sisters, not just someone to help.”
ASA is excited to lift up the work of Living Waters for the World to our members and encourage more companies to become involved in this important work. “We’re all in this together, and we welcome ASA members’ hands-on involvement as well as their financial support,” Young adds. “An investment of $10,000 helps one of our water teams provide clean water to a new community in need, as well as help Living Waters for the World support our current water system operators with technical assistance and continuing education.”
American Valve CEO Seth Guterman agrees. “I was recently in Cuba with LWW and there’s no greater return on investment than what I have seen with these systems and partnerships. Community and church leaders are taking charge of the health of their fellow citizens, and we are all blessed in the process.”
For more information on how you can join the Living Waters for the World effort, please contact LWW Executive Director Steve Young: steve@livingwatersfortheworld.org
