What We Do
Water For People (WFP) is an international non-profit working across 9 countries in South America, Africa, and Asia to bring safe water and sanitation.
WFP empowers local governments, community members, and service providers to invest in the long-term solutions and systems that are right for them. This means listening to them and establishing trust from the very beginning. We want every community, household, school, and clinic to have lasting access to safe water and sanitation for generations to come – we call this impact model Everyone Forever. Forever means empowering communities and governments to operate and maintain their own systems so Water For People doesn't have to be around forever, but water and sanitation services will be. Water For People achieved a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for the 16th year in a row.
Water For People Canada was created in 1995 and has funded or partially funded more than 76 projects in seven countries (total approx. US $1.14 million).
The OWWA – Water For People Committee works to increase the awareness of the project work and to raise funds for these projects. 100% of funds donated through OWWA Water For People Committee Activities are passed on to Water For People Canada. Committee Operations are funded by the OWWA.
Our Activities
The OWWA Water For People Committee is happy to share that we were able to donate over $9, 500 to Water For People in 2019. We couldn’t have achieved this without the support from our event volunteers, participants, and the generosity of our sponsors and donors. A big thank you to everyone!!
Water For People Committee Events
Ski/Snowboard Day
The 12th Annual Ski/Snowboard Day was held on January 17, 2020. There were 34 participants that were able to enjoy an amazing powder day and no line-ups at Devil’s Glen, a private resort in Glen Huron. Contributions from our participants and Sponsors CIMA+ and Echelon Environmental enabled us to raise $2780 for the Water For People charity.
Ontario’s Water Conference and Tradeshow
At Ontario’s Water Conference & Tradeshow, the committee raises money through the sale of WFP heart stickers and through a Silent Auction. In addition to these committee activities, there are other events during the conference that result in donations. C3 Water has hosted a number of darts tournaments and donated proceeds to the committee; 2019 marked their sixth anniversary of holding this event. For many years, the Ontario Water Works Equipment Association has donated the proceeds from their Golf Tournament.
Kenneth J. Miller Founders’ Award
Every year, Water For People recognizes outstanding committee volunteers with an award that honours one of their founders, Ken Miller. Recipients receive an official pin from their committee and are recognized during a formal luncheon hosted during ACE. Past recipients from the OWWA WFP are listed below.
2023 - Cynthia Doughty
2019- Mike Matesic
2018- Garry Boychuk
2017- Carolyn de Groot
2016- Gary Craig
2015- Deb Goudreau
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Water and Health
- Most frequent diseases related to poor water supply and sanitation includes diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid. Lack of sanitation is the world’s biggest cause of infection
- 3.4 million deaths occur each year from water-related diseases
- 2.2 billion people lack access to clean water
- 4.2 billion—1 in every 2 people on the planet doesn't have a decent toilet
Water as a Catalyst for Change
WFP uses water as the catalyst for change and improved health in developing countries. WFP collaborate with local partner organizations, empowering a community to take ownership and develop independence by having a local water board and health promoter. WFP projects ESTABLISH low cost water and sanitation services close to home:
- Community hand pumps
- Water storage tanks
- Hand washing stations
- Gravity fed water systems
- Household latrines
WFP projects PROMOTE health education to maximize the benefits from a new water system.
| Member | Company |
|---|---|
| Andrea Bazzard | City of Hamilton |
| Ed Bertolo | Evans Supply |
| Jamie Boutilier | CIMA+ |
| Garry Boychuk | Toronto Water |
| Ed Broeders | H2Flow |
| Domenica Cevallos | Jacobs |
| Allan Choi | R.V. Anderson |
| Cynthia Doughty | |
| Nadwa Elbadri | University of Waterloo |
| Deb Goudreau | City of Hamilton |
| Sammy Hiseler | C3 Water |
| Mike Matesic | |
| Javed Mukri | Xylem |
| John Ninan | |
| Maika Pellegrino | Jacobs |
| Hayat Raza | Continental Carbon |
| Michelle Scott | C3 Water |
| Masoumeh Sharafimasool | DAL |
| Saloni Singh | WOOD |
| Tom Woodcock | R.V. Anderson |
| Amy Yang | AECOM |