Industry Creates Relief Network to Support American Red Cross

A new partnership between the American Red Cross and the Chlorine Chemistry Council will help restore safe drinking water when disasters strike at home and abroad.

The Water Relief Network was established by an initial $100,000 grant from the CCC to the Red Cross. The Relief Network will provide the Red Cross with the products of chlorine chemistry essential to restoring safe drinking water supplies after a disaster: water disinfection and treatment chemicals, plastic water containers, PVC piping for temporary distribution systems, and pumps and generators.

The Water Relief Network has already attracted more than 50 corporate participants since it was launched in June.

Other chlorine chemistry products for disaster relief include plastic sheeting to provide shelter and disinfectants to sanitize homes and buildings contaminated by flood water.

At previous ARCC meetings in Washington, labor representatives suggested that industry groups should participate actively in water purification programs to help spread the message that chlorine chemistry provides basic products that people take for granted - or depend on - in their lives.

"Through our relationship with the Water Relief Network, we will continue to provide essential products to help meet the emergency needs of disaster victims," said Gene Dyson, the American Red Cross's acting President.

Even in the United States and other industrialized countries, where public water supplies are purified by chlorine chemistry, natural disasters can contaminate an area's drinking water. Even before the establishment of the Relief Network, chlorine products companies provided relief after the Mississippi River flood of 1993 and Hurricane Bob in 1991. In addition, companies have provided help in Puerto Rico, the Phillipines, Haiti and Bosnia.

Meanwhile, needs are still great. Over 25,000 people die from waterborne illness each day in areas that cannot provide safe drinking water.