The Amazon Water Project addresses the clean drinking water needs of the “forgotten river people” living in the hidden villages deep in the Amazon Basin. These people live on the flood plain and rely on the rivers in the region for their way of life. Ironically, approximately 80 percent of illness and disease among the river people is water-related, so the key source of their survival is also the key source of their sickness and death. Further, the extremely remote and rural location of these people makes it nearly impossible to seek medical help as traveling to the more developed cities of the region is difficult. As a result, the project goal is to address the problem at its source and provide clean drinking water to those in need, thereby preventing water-related disease rather than treating it. This makes the biosand water filter a viable option, as it can provide clean water from the abundant surface water sources available in the region’s rivers. The Amazon Water Project was started in March 2006, and is implemented at the point of need through a partnership with The Xingu Mission.
Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fourth most populated democracy in the world. Brazil’s economy is larger than any other South American country due to its strong agricultural, mining and industrial sectors, though the country still struggles with a 10 percent unemployment rate. The Brazilian government has made the alleviation of poverty one of its top priorities. While many Brazilians enjoy access to improved water sources, nearly 20 million are still without access in forgotten or neglected rural areas. Brazil boasts amazing plant and animal diversity and is home to approximately 40 percent of the world’s remaining rainforest.
