The gift of life
ZENON and Rotary team up to supply African village with clean drinking water
By Howard Mozel
News
Oct 14, 2005
Although ZENON Environmental Inc. technology purifies two per cent of North America's total drinking water
supply, its latest Water for Humanity project in Tzaneen, South Africa will save more lives than all this capacity
combined.
ZENON COO Rafael Simon made that stunning statement Wednesday morning as company volunteers,
suppliers and the Rotary Clubs of Oakville bid farewell to the water purification system bound for Tzaneen.
The sad irony of all this, Simon continued, is that after selling more than $1 billion worth of ZENON equipment
around the world, the people who need help most simply aren't getting it. That's where Water for Humanity
comes in.
"This is the most fulfilling project we work on in a year," said Simon, alluding to how Tzaneen was selected from
a long list of worthy locations. "The trouble with a project like this is we can only do one at a time."
The absolute need for clean drinking water was painfully underscored in 2005 - what Simon calls the Year of the
Disaster - when so many deaths from water-related causes occurred because of the tsunami, hurricanes and
earthquakes. The shameful truth is, he added, two million people die each year from ongoing issues associated
with contaminated water all over the globe with little or no fanfare.
That's why it was obvious on Wednesday how proud all those involved with the Tzaneen Water for Humanity
effort are - especially now, when after 18 months of planning and construction, the system is being shipped this
week with an expected arrival around Christmas. It will then go on-line in February 2006.
This plant - valued at around $300,000 - will treat 140,000 gallons of water per day and add immeasurably to
the lives of thousands.
"Access to clean water is a fundamental need so without a doubt it will make a tremendous impact," said Jackie
Kennedy, ZENON Mobile Fleet Manager and Tzaneen Water for Humanity project manager, who was also
involved in 2002's project in the Quang Dien District of Vietnam. "I knew I wanted to be involved with Water for
Humanity. That's what it's all about for me."
Water For Humanity is ZENON's volunteer-driven initiative founded by the company's employees in 1999 as a
way of showing their commitment to support the world's need for clean, safe water in regions that cannot supply
water for themselves.
This year, Oakville's four Rotary Clubs joined forces with ZENON to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Rotary
International by installing the drinking water system.
The project has been in the works since a joint meeting in April 2003 between The Rotary Clubs of Oakville,
Oakville-Trafalgar, Oakville-North and Oakville-West. Rotary and ZENON then worked closely to develop what is
clearly an exhilarating venture for all involved.
For Rotary spokesperson David Angas, the project is one that has filled everyone involved with immense pride.
"This is a very genuine example of corporate philanthropy," he said.
Angas was part of the three-member team that earlier this year inspected a short list of five candidate sites in
Ghana and South Africa. With him were two representatives from ZENON, Services Vice President Jim Imrie and
General Manager of Design Build and Mobile Systems R. Philip Canning.
Factored into the decision to choose Tzaneen - a municipality in the province of Limpopo, located in the
northeastern part of South Africa - were things like access to a reliable water source, the presence of chemical
agents in the water, salinity and the likelihood of long-term sustainability.
Integral to this will be the commitment of those on ground in Tzaneen to see the project through in the
long-term, namely local government, South African Rotarians (who will build the necessary pipelines to outlying
villages) and the end-users of the water.
ZENON, together with support from its suppliers, covered all the costs associated with the design, engineering,
construction and installation of the water filtration system. Rotary, thanks to its many committed members
already in place in Tzaneen, will handle the necessary infrastructure such as the water delivery system plus
local education measures to help ensure sustainability.
This, Imrie explained, is critical, since there's no point in going to these lengths if the purification plant is allowed
to fall into disrepair or is used improperly.
"Sustainability is what this project is all about," he added while thanking the 100 or so people involved. "We want
to make sure it runs forever."
A team of ZENON staff volunteers and Rotarians will be returning to Tzaneen for the installation phase in late
January. Just as with the Vietnam project, a lottery was held to see which ZENON employees will accompany the
system to Africa. According to Imrie, two are from North America while the third hails from the company's
European operations.
The first Water For Humanity project was the donation of a drinking water system to the Bear Island Reserve, a
First Nations community in Temagami, Ontario, which had been experiencing significant problems with parasite
contamination in its source water. The effort benefited more than 200 residents of more than 60 homes on the
reserve.
The Quang Dien District - identified by the World Health Organization as having significant health issues such
as eye disease, diarrhea and dysentery attributed to poor water quality - marked the second project.
"This is unit was cherished, well maintained and expanded," said Simon.
Added Imrie: "We're already looking forward to the next one."
For Kennedy, who helped install the Vietnam system and characterized that trip as an "incredible experience,"
Water for Humanity can be boiled down to one thing: giving something back.
ZENON's ZeeWeed technology, features membranes that contain pores a mere 0.035 microns in size and act as
barriers to microorganisms that are 10 to 100 times larger. The membranes remove the microorganisms outright
- not kill them to leave dead or partially dead organisms in the treated water. ZeeWeed is effective for
everything from Cryptosporidium to E.coli.
ZENON and Rotary team up to supply African village with clean drinking water
By Howard Mozel
News
Oct 14, 2005
Although ZENON Environmental Inc. technology purifies two per cent of North America's total drinking water
supply, its latest Water for Humanity project in Tzaneen, South Africa will save more lives than all this capacity
combined.
ZENON COO Rafael Simon made that stunning statement Wednesday morning as company volunteers,
suppliers and the Rotary Clubs of Oakville bid farewell to the water purification system bound for Tzaneen.
The sad irony of all this, Simon continued, is that after selling more than $1 billion worth of ZENON equipment
around the world, the people who need help most simply aren't getting it. That's where Water for Humanity
comes in.
"This is the most fulfilling project we work on in a year," said Simon, alluding to how Tzaneen was selected from
a long list of worthy locations. "The trouble with a project like this is we can only do one at a time."
The absolute need for clean drinking water was painfully underscored in 2005 - what Simon calls the Year of the
Disaster - when so many deaths from water-related causes occurred because of the tsunami, hurricanes and
earthquakes. The shameful truth is, he added, two million people die each year from ongoing issues associated
with contaminated water all over the globe with little or no fanfare.
That's why it was obvious on Wednesday how proud all those involved with the Tzaneen Water for Humanity
effort are - especially now, when after 18 months of planning and construction, the system is being shipped this
week with an expected arrival around Christmas. It will then go on-line in February 2006.
This plant - valued at around $300,000 - will treat 140,000 gallons of water per day and add immeasurably to
the lives of thousands.
"Access to clean water is a fundamental need so without a doubt it will make a tremendous impact," said Jackie
Kennedy, ZENON Mobile Fleet Manager and Tzaneen Water for Humanity project manager, who was also
involved in 2002's project in the Quang Dien District of Vietnam. "I knew I wanted to be involved with Water for
Humanity. That's what it's all about for me."
Water For Humanity is ZENON's volunteer-driven initiative founded by the company's employees in 1999 as a
way of showing their commitment to support the world's need for clean, safe water in regions that cannot supply
water for themselves.
This year, Oakville's four Rotary Clubs joined forces with ZENON to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Rotary
International by installing the drinking water system.
The project has been in the works since a joint meeting in April 2003 between The Rotary Clubs of Oakville,
Oakville-Trafalgar, Oakville-North and Oakville-West. Rotary and ZENON then worked closely to develop what is
clearly an exhilarating venture for all involved.
For Rotary spokesperson David Angas, the project is one that has filled everyone involved with immense pride.
"This is a very genuine example of corporate philanthropy," he said.
Angas was part of the three-member team that earlier this year inspected a short list of five candidate sites in
Ghana and South Africa. With him were two representatives from ZENON, Services Vice President Jim Imrie and
General Manager of Design Build and Mobile Systems R. Philip Canning.
Factored into the decision to choose Tzaneen - a municipality in the province of Limpopo, located in the
northeastern part of South Africa - were things like access to a reliable water source, the presence of chemical
agents in the water, salinity and the likelihood of long-term sustainability.
Integral to this will be the commitment of those on ground in Tzaneen to see the project through in the
long-term, namely local government, South African Rotarians (who will build the necessary pipelines to outlying
villages) and the end-users of the water.
ZENON, together with support from its suppliers, covered all the costs associated with the design, engineering,
construction and installation of the water filtration system. Rotary, thanks to its many committed members
already in place in Tzaneen, will handle the necessary infrastructure such as the water delivery system plus
local education measures to help ensure sustainability.
This, Imrie explained, is critical, since there's no point in going to these lengths if the purification plant is allowed
to fall into disrepair or is used improperly.
"Sustainability is what this project is all about," he added while thanking the 100 or so people involved. "We want
to make sure it runs forever."
A team of ZENON staff volunteers and Rotarians will be returning to Tzaneen for the installation phase in late
January. Just as with the Vietnam project, a lottery was held to see which ZENON employees will accompany the
system to Africa. According to Imrie, two are from North America while the third hails from the company's
European operations.
The first Water For Humanity project was the donation of a drinking water system to the Bear Island Reserve, a
First Nations community in Temagami, Ontario, which had been experiencing significant problems with parasite
contamination in its source water. The effort benefited more than 200 residents of more than 60 homes on the
reserve.
The Quang Dien District - identified by the World Health Organization as having significant health issues such
as eye disease, diarrhea and dysentery attributed to poor water quality - marked the second project.
"This is unit was cherished, well maintained and expanded," said Simon.
Added Imrie: "We're already looking forward to the next one."
For Kennedy, who helped install the Vietnam system and characterized that trip as an "incredible experience,"
Water for Humanity can be boiled down to one thing: giving something back.
ZENON's ZeeWeed technology, features membranes that contain pores a mere 0.035 microns in size and act as
barriers to microorganisms that are 10 to 100 times larger. The membranes remove the microorganisms outright
- not kill them to leave dead or partially dead organisms in the treated water. ZeeWeed is effective for
everything from Cryptosporidium to E.coli.
Ron Kuzyk, Beaver photographer
WATER FOR HUMANITY Philip Canning, ZENON Vice-President of Operations,
David Angas, Water for Humanity Committee Chair, Rotary Club of Oakville West,
and Jim Imrie, Vice-President of Zenon Services celebrate the completion of a
mobile water purification plant which will eventually be installed in the remote
African village of Tzaneen.
WATER FOR HUMANITY Philip Canning, ZENON Vice-President of Operations,
David Angas, Water for Humanity Committee Chair, Rotary Club of Oakville West,
and Jim Imrie, Vice-President of Zenon Services celebrate the completion of a
mobile water purification plant which will eventually be installed in the remote
African village of Tzaneen.
