Our Work

Water as an Emergency Response

In a disaster situation, safe water and proper sanitation are essential to preserving life and preventing the spread of disease. People affected by disasters are generally much more susceptible to illness and death from disease, which are related to a large extent to inadequate sanitation, inadequate water supplies and poor hygiene.1

Samaritan’s Purse reacts in disaster situations where emergency water response is critical to prevent the spread of diarrhoeal and infectious diseases. We assess the needs, and determine whether a household water treatment program, or a large-scale community response, such as a centralized water filtration system, is needed.

In a household response, we provide victims of disasters with PuR Household Kits, allowing families to easily purify water obtained from contaminated sources.

We currently have thousands of PuR Household Kits prepared, ready to be distributed at a moments notice.

Samaritan’s Purse rushes the water purification kits to the disaster area and distributes them to families. We show them how to use the kits and teach safe water storage and basic health and hygiene. Educating families in proper health and hygiene principles, such as hand washing, is crucial to alleviating the spread of diseases.

About PuR Household Kits

PuR water sachets, used in Samaritan’s Purse emergency water response, contain a powdered mixture that removes two major sources of contamination: micro-organisms and suspended matter (mud and organic matter). PuR renders previously contaminated water safe to drink, with a water quality that meets World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines for Drinking Water, and Sphere Guidelines for Water Quality in an emergency. Each PuR Household Kit provides a multiple-barrier approach to purifying water; filtration, followed by disinfection.

PuR comes in a four gram sachet, and each sachet treats 10 litres of water. It contains a chlorine disinfectant for killing bacteria and an iron salt coagulant for removing sediment, protozoa (parasites), and viruses. PuR was developed by Procter and Gamble in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and requires only a few simple tools which Samaritan’s Purse provides in our emergency water filter kits.

The PuR Household Kit includes enough PuR sachets to sustain a five-person household for two weeks, as well as a bucket and lid, filter cloth, stirring utensil, scissors, hard soap, and user instruction card diagram in the local language.

PuR was awarded the 2005 Stockholm Industry Water Award, recognizing innovative development of water and wastewater process technologies.

How to Use PuR

 

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1. The Sphere Project – Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response 2004 

Ways You Can Help
Pray Please pray for those affected by severe flooding across South Asia and for our partners as they provide hope and assistance in the Name of Jesus Christ.		Give Help provide critical emergency water resources during a disaster. Donate Here.