First Freshwater Grants Awarded



Two groups dedicated to developing solutions to the problem of freshwater scarcity in the world have received grants from The Lee Endowment for Global Freshwater.

The mission of the Lee Endowment for Global Freshwater is to encourage the development of solutions to the world's8217;s freshwater needs through economical and practical methods. According to the United Nations, more than 1 billion people do not have access to potable water; millions more do not have access to safe, clean drinking water. At least 50% of the world's8217;s people do not have access to adequate sanitation.

Margaret Comfort, Director of the Lee Endowment for Global Freshwater, announced the two grants today. A technology research grant was awarded to the Yeh Research Group at the University of South Florida for Development of ECOL- Mem, a Sustainable Membrane Filtration Process. ECOL stands for 's8220;Environmentally- friendly, Capacity- building, Obtainable, Low-cost.'s8221; This appropriate technology will be used either for potable water treatment or sewage treatment.

Dr. Daniel Yeh, PhD., P.E. is the principal investigator and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Yeh serves on the Faculty Advisory Board of the Dr. Kiran C. Patel Center for Global Solutions, as well as the Faculty Advisory Committee of the USF Nanomaterials and Nanomanufacturing Research Center at the University of South Florida.

As part of this grant, Ms. Ana Garcia, an engineering graduate student from Colombia, will benchmark membrane filtration properties and evaluate the suitability of various low-cost materials for use as membrane alternatives.

A second grant for project implementation has been awarded to the Chiapas Water Project Group of Leland, Michigan for construction of rainwater- catchment systems for eight Mayan communities in Chiapas, Mexico. The project will also train local individuals to ensure long-term maintenance for the projects and to transfer knowledge to other communities in the region. More than 50% of the people do not have clean, safe drinking water.

A group of Northern Michigan residents interested in equal access to potable water and the struggle for indigenous autonomy in Chiapas, Mexico, formed the Chiapas Water Project. Being blessed to live in a region full of freshwater, they are striving to give the gift of freshwater to those who do not have access to it. By traveling to Chiapas, participating in the construction of the projects and holding educational events, they hope to further a deeper commitment and build a lasting relationship based in solidarity between the good people of Michigan and Chiapas.

The Chiapas Water Project is working in partnership with other organizations: CATAS- a coordinating group consisting of various collectives and individuals involved in community projects focused on preventative health and appropriate technology in Chiapas, Mexico, Higher Grounds Trading Company- a family-owned company in Leland, Michigan offering fair-trade, organic and shade grown coffees and handcrafted gifts from farmer-owned cooperatives around the world, and St. Michael's8217;s Catholic Church in Suttons Bay, Michigan.

Ms. Leslie Lee established The Lee Endowment for Global Freshwater as an operating unit within the Inland Seas Education Association, located at the Inland seas Education Center in Suttons Bay, Michigan, USA. For information on The Lee Project go to: www.GlobalFreshwater.org/





First Freshwater Grants Awarded