The multi-year Project Safewater research programme from Pentair and its Foundation is being conducted in Colon, Honduras. Pentair has partnered with the non-profit Water Missions International to help bring water treatment and sanitation to the approximately 400,000 people in Colon who have been living without clean water and proper sanitation facilities.

Pentair’s Project Safewater has installed more than 200 water treatment systems and almost 10,000 individual sanitation facilities throughout Colon. Community education programmes help ensure that families understand the importance of safe, clean drinking water and the connection between good hygiene practices and good health.

Susan Carter, manager, Pentair Foundation said: “The world’s population faces an increasing lack of access to safe drinking water. Out hope is that we can scientifically demonstrate that the clean water crisis can be addressed in an affordable and sustainable manner.”

The US Centres for Disease Control and the Honduran Department of Health have begun gathering scientific data on the health impact and overall effectiveness of Project Safewater. Pentair anticipates completing Project Safewater in late 2010.