MORTON GROVE, ILL. — ITT Corp., parent of Bell & Gossett, Goulds Pumps and other brands serving the HVAC and plumbing industry, announced today that through its partnership with Mercy Corps it is donating five portable water treatment systems to the Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces of Pakistan in response to the recent flooding.
Of the more than 15 million people the Pakistan floods are estimated to have affected, the World Health Organization estimates only 1.2 million had access to critical safe water supplies. The water treatment units, which have the potential to provide clean water to as many as 200,000 people, were donated by ITT and are being deployed through Mercy Corps’ large-scale humanitarian aid response.
This collaborative disaster response is part of a strategic partnership between ITT's corporate citizenship program, ITT Watermark and Mercy Corps to provide safe water and sanitation during emergencies. Under the partnership, ITT has established an emergency fund to support Mercy Corps’ initial, on-the-ground assessment of short- and long-term needs following a disaster.
Within hours of being notified of the Pakistan disaster, ITT authorized Mercy Corps to tap $62,000 of ITT's 2010 emergency response fund to support efforts to provide clean water to flood victims. ITT is also matching all ITT employee donations to Mercy Corps’ Pakistan relief efforts.
ITT and Mercy Corps’ joint activities have included trucking and chlorination of water, repair of water-related infrastructure, and restoration and construction of new water sources. In the Swat Valley alone, ITT’s support has already helped Mercy Corps provide 1.1 million gallons of water to 110,000 people. Mercy Corps’ initial assessments in Swat Valley and Sindh province identified an acute need for access to water and sanitation. As many as four million people have been rendered homeless following the worst South Asian floods in 80 years.
“We are pleased to be using our expertise in fluid technology to support our partner, Mercy Corps, in providing victims with immediate assistance as well as long-term recovery,” said Steve Loranger, chairman, president and chief executive officer, ITT. “Our funds and our products are being used to provide life-saving water and to prevent the spread of waterborne disease.”
“Flood victims in Pakistan have an enormous and urgent need for clean drinking water; without it, waterborne illnesses can spread rapidly and have a devastating impact,” said Randy Martin, Mercy Corps Director of Global Emergency Operations. “We are thrilled that ITT has been so quick and generous in their support. ITT’s expertise, equipment and funding have been critical.”
In the aftermath of disaster, providing safe water and access to adequate sanitation becomes paramount as lack of clean water, combined with poor living conditions, intensifies the threat of waterborne disease.
ITT has a legacy of supporting communities in need and responding to disasters through its products and expertise. Most recently, ITT responded to the 2010 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Haiti by supporting Mercy Corps and providing portable water treatment systems to help victims. Additionally, ITT was able to offer assistance following the 2008 8.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Sichuan Province in Western China and after massive flooding in Honduras displaced thousands of people in 2008.
Mercy Corps helps people in the world’s toughest places turn the crises of natural disaster, poverty and conflict into opportunities for progress. Driven by local needs and market conditions, our programs provide communities with the tools and support they need to transform their own lives. Our worldwide team of 3,700 professionals is improving the lives of 16.7 million people in more than 40 countries.