Worrell Water Technologies’ Living Machine® technology for wastewater treatment is in direct alignment with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) current recommendations for addressing the global water crisis:

WHO ACTION ON SOLUTIONS

1. An ecosystem approach: Natural ecosystems have intricate and resilient mechanisms that filter and replenish freshwater resources and sustain marine environments. Although human technologies may enhance or replicate these mechanisms in some settings, protection of the natural watershed also is critical. An ‘ecosystem approach’ recognizes and ascribes value, including economic value, to the ‘services’ natural ecosystems provide in terms of water filtration and purification, and ensures their sustainability, through modern management regimes.
2. Integrated water resource management: Different users within a watershed are interdependent; therefore, integrated water resource management is essential. Upstream uses of water impact the potential of downstream users to meet their needs. Land use, agricultural patterns, and industrial development all affect water resources. A wide range of sectors, e.g., agriculture, energy, industry, fisheries, tourism, local government all must plan and coordinate strategies on the full range of developments that affect ecosystems, natural hydrology, and water consumption–with reference to expert advice and guidance of health and environment sectors.
3. Protecting water from contamination from household to global level: Careful disposal of waste and protection of health from contaminated water sources is a vital principal–from the personal to the international level. It includes simple hygiene tactics like good handwashing practice and safe filtration/storage of household water resources; move onto local and municipal sanitation and waste disposal systems; and also includes global regimes/conventions to protect both fresh and marine water sources from transboundary waster, unsustainable resource use, and contamination. Development and implementation of water quality standards, monitoring of water quality/water–related disease indicators, are critical to protection of water resources.

	Less than 1% of the world’s freshwater is available for human consumption. Although almost ¾ of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, only 2.5% of this is freshwater. Most of the freshwater is trapped in the polar icecaps. More than 99% of the world’s water supply is saline, inaccessible or otherwise unavailable for human use.
	70% of water withdrawn from freshwater systems goes toward irrigation, 22% of freshwater resources is used by industries, and 8% of freshwater resources goes toward human consumption and sanitation purposes. Worrell Water Technologies’ Living Machine systems are an innovative way to recycle water for irrigation and reduce the draw on freshwater systems.
	Every day, 2 million tons of human waste are disposed of in water courses. 40% of water bodies assessed in 1998 in the United States were not deemed fit for recreational use due to nutrient, metal and agricultural pollution. Living Machine systems can provide cost–effective onsite treatment systems to prevent waste from polluting rivers, canals and other precious water resources.
	In developing countries, more than 90% of sewage and 70% of industrial wastes are dumped untreated and pollute the usable water supply. Simple and economical water treatment solutions, like the Living Machine system from Worrell Water Technologies, can help ease the pressures of pollutants and contaminants and return the water to safety in places where large–scale municipal treatment plants are not an option.
	An estimated half of the world’s wetlands have been lost since 1900. Wetlands cover up to 6% of Earth’s surface and play a vital role in regional ecosystems. The main causes of their loss have been drainage and conversion of wetlands to agricultural or urban land, compounded by pollution. Hybrid Living Machine systems can increase the total wetlands footprint in a community and add back valuable habitat for birds and insects.
	The demand for water from 1900 to 1995 increased sixfold; more than twice the rate of population growth during the same time interval. The United Nations estimates that if present water consumption trends continue, in less than 25 years 5 billion people will be living in areas where it will be impossible or difficult to meet basic water needs for sanitation, cooking and drinking. Technologies from Worrell Water can help offset this trend by sanitizing previously unavailable water sources and reducing the need to draw on potable water resources for irrigation, toilet flushing and other uses.
	The average person needs 13.2 gallons (50 liters) of water per day. The United Nations provides these figures: 1.3 gal (5L) for drinking 2.6 gal (10L) for cooking 4.0 gal (15L) for bathing 5.3 gal (20L) for sanitation
	An average household in Phoenix, Arizona, uses over 800 liters of freshwater per person each day, while an average household in Kenya uses less than 100 liters per person in the same 24 hour period. Water consumption in industrialized versus non–industrialized countries is startling. The average per capita consumption in sub–Saharan Africa is 1.2 gallons per day, while per capita consumption in the United States averages about 75 gallons.
	Worldwide, 1.2 billion people (2 in 10) do not have access to safe drinking water. This is the equivalent to the populations of the United States, Brazil, Canada and England combined. The technologies at Worrell Water will greatly facilitate efforts to protect available water supplies from contamination and pollution. Coupled with disinfection technologies, Living Machine systems offer the potential to dramatically increase the quantity of reusable water.
	50% of the world’s population lacks adequate water purification systems. 80% of diseases in developing nations are caused by consumption of and exposure to unsafe water. Unsafe water and inadequate sanitation is the world’s single largest cause of illness. Patients with water–borne diseases occupy half of the world’s hospital beds at any given time.
	More than 25,000 people die every day from water related diseases. Many water–borne diseases, including cholera, are caused or complicated by unsanitary water conditions. Living Machine systems can eliminate nearly all harmful bacterial found in most of these water supplies.
	By the year 2025, 35% of the world’s projected population will live in countries facing water shortages. Worrell Water Technologies is dedicated to ensuring that individuals, communities and industries everywhere have access to safe, secure water to meet their needs. We are committed to advancing products that safeguard safe drinking water, restore water for reuse, conserve water and protect the environment. Worrell Water Technologies’ commitment to innovation is evident in our investment in research personnel and laboratory facilities. We believe that future products and services to meet the world’s water challenges will involve the successful integration of biological, mechanical and chemical systems. The company’s portfolio of proprietary intellectual property and diverse professional expertise uniquely position Worrell Water Technologies to bring these solutions to the world.

SOURCES

The Health and Environment Linkages Initiative (HELI). Water, health and ecosystem linkages, WHO.

“Health in Water Resources Development,” WHO.

“Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality,” WHO, 2005.

“UNESCO Water Portal Weekly Update No. 100,” July 1, 2005.

“UNESCO Water Portal Weekly Update No. 90: Water Quality,” April 22, 2005.

“Preserving Freshwater and Coastal Ecosystems: Canada's Contributions to the Sustainable Management and Use of Global Water Resources,” The Delphi Group, prepared for the Government of Canada, February 2002.

Peter H. Gleick, “The World's Water 1998-1999: The Biennial Report on Freshwater Resources,” Washington, DC: Island Press.

“Report of the United Nations Water Conference, Mar del Plata,” 1967. New York: United Nations Publications.

“Global Water Outlook to 2005: Averting an Impending Crisis,” International Food Policy Research Institute and International Water Management Institute, 2002.

“World Water Vision Commission Report. A Water Secure World: Vision for Water, Life and the Environment,” World Water Council, 2000.

“Water Supply and Sanitation,” World Water Council, 2006.

World Water Day Report, United Nations Press Release, March 22, 2002.

Water Resources, World Health Organization.

Press Release WHO/73, World Health Organization, November 22, 2000.

“U.N. Warns of Severe Water Shortage,” The Associated Press, March 22, 2002.

World Health Organization - www.who.int

United Nations - www.un.org

UNESCO - www.unesco.org/water/wwap/index.shtml

Water Partners International - www.water.org