R.I. District 3450 – Drinking water system for 94 schools in China – 2011
ENG
In 2011, Rotary District 3450, covering Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia, and Guangdong province, launched a project to provide clean drinking water to 94 public schools in Weinan, Shaanxi province. The region faced severe water pollution, and the initiative installed SkyHydrants, passive membrane filtration systems by the SkyJuice Foundation, offering chemical-free water without electricity. Serving approximately 300,000 students, the $350,000 pilot project was led by District Governor David Harilela near Xi’an. Over 200 Rotarians from 100+ clubs in 13 districts participated. Collaboration with educators ensured proper training for school staff to maintain the filters. The project aims to double school coverage through a partnership with an Australian NGO, addressing China’s critical water safety issues as much of its underground and surface water is unsafe for human contact.
PTG
Em 2011, o Distrito 3450 do Rotary, abrangendo Hong Kong, Macau, Mongólia e a província de Guangdong, iniciou um projeto para fornecer água potável limpa a 94 escolas públicas em Weinan, província de Shaanxi. A região sofria com grave poluição da água, e a iniciativa instalou SkyHydrants, sistemas de filtração passiva da SkyJuice Foundation que oferecem água livre de químicos sem uso de eletricidade. Atendendo cerca de 300.000 estudantes, o projeto piloto de 350.000 dólares foi liderado pelo Governador Distrital David Harilela, nas proximidades de Xi’an. Mais de 200 rotarianos de mais de 100 clubes em 13 distritos participaram. A colaboração com educadores garantiu o treinamento adequado dos funcionários escolares para manutenção dos filtros. O projeto pretende dobrar o número de escolas atendidas através da parceria com uma ONG australiana, enfrentando os críticos problemas de segurança hídrica da China, onde grande parte das águas subterrâneas e superficiais são impróprias para contato humano.
Weinan, a city in the coal-mining hub of Shaanxi province, one of China’s most environmentally distressed regions, has long had problems with polluted drinking water. District 3450, covering Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia, and Guangdong province in China, has installed passive membrane filtration systems in 94 public schools, providing 300,000 schoolchildren with access to potable water. The district is ramping up its partnership with an Australian nongovernmental organization to double the number of schools with filtration within the next year.
The SkyHydrant filters, supplied to Rotarians at a discounted price of about $2,000 each by the SkyJuice Foundation, generate clean, chemical-free water and require no electricity. The $350,000 effort was initiated in late 2011 by then-District Governor David Harilela as a pilot project in four schools near Xi’an.
Since then, more than 200 District 3450 Rotarians have worked to install the systems, and more than 100 clubs in 13 districts have contributed to the effort. A key component, notes District Governor Hing Wang Fung, was getting the cooperation of educators and government officials to ensure that school employees would be trained to maintain and monitor the systems.
“The Chinese government has labeled 60 percent of its underground water, and one-third of its surface water, ‘unfit for human contact.’”
by BRAD WEBBER
THE ROTARIAN | DECEMBER 2017
World Roundup Rotary CHINA Weinan Shaanxi China District 3450 Hong Kong Macau Mongolia Guangdong 300 000 The Australian SkyHydrant Rotarians SkyJuice Foundation 350 2011 Governor David Harilela Since 200 100 Hing Wang Fung Chinese BRAD WEBBER THE ROTARIAN DECEMBER 2017
R.I.-District-3450-–-Drinking-water-system-for-94-schools-in-China-2011.pdf
