Cape Town - For the small community of Nuweberg, just outside Grabouw, a tiny 56g device has changed the way people live by providing them with access to their most basic need – clean water.
The small town in the Hottentots Holland Reserve has about 45 homes, built of wood and corrugated iron.
Inhabitants received LifeStraw portable water filters, which convert contaminated water into clean, safe drinking water and remove about 99 percent of all bacteria and parasites.
This has significantly reduced the incidence of diarrhoea and enhanced the community’s quality of life over the past year.
The Rotary Club introduced the filters to the Western Cape for the first time through its Rotary SafeWater Project.
Marius Lintnaard, chairman of the councillors of stakeholders for Nuweberg, described the community’s water situation.
“We had water problems and complaints about the quality of water, which we get straight from the mountain. This meant that discoloured water, with frogs, insects, sticks and other small objects often came out of their taps.”
By raising funds through the sale of “safewater bracelets” – and with international Rotary clubs’ help – Rotarians from the Sea Point, Strand and Am Kap clubs drove to Grabouw to provide Lebanon, Kleinbegin and Nuweberg with LifeStraws.
Lintnaard said the Rotary Club had stepped in before the situation got out of hand.
Community meetings were held and Rotary went from home to home distributing filters and explaining their use.
“The feedback has been positive, and the water is most definitely cleaner – you can see the difference.
“Our water has always been different because it’s natural and doesn’t get purified.
“We’re used to that, but people kept complaining for various reasons.”
Dr Tony Davidson, SafeWater project co-ordinator of the Sea Point Rotary Club, said being able to improve the living standards of locals was a “privilege”.
He said a post-implementation review had found a reduction in gastro issues for residents.
“People are saving money because they don’t have to boil water or go to clinics or doctors for treatment.”
Davidson said the initiative would be expanded by launching projects with partnerships in KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo.
“Our plan is to raise enough funds to introduce 600 community LifeStraw units through our Rotary network.” - Sunday Argus