Decorah Rotary Club Partners With SWIM to Bring Safe Water to the World

DECORAH — The Decorah Rotary Club, along with members of Decorah Lutheran Church and the Elks Club, are joining Safe Water International Ministries (SWIM) to bring safe water to the world. On October 24, they will be assembling close to 100 of SWIM's "Chlorine Producing Units" (CPUs). Each unit can provide safe water to upwards of 10,000 people. In other words, this project has the potential to produce enough CPU's to serve 400,000 individuals. Providing safe water is one of the key emphases of Rotary. By partnering with Safe Water International Ministries, the Decorah club is able to fulfill this purpose of reaching out to the world. Presently, SWIM works primarily in a number of countries in Africa, India and Nepal. However, SWIM's CPUs are operating in more than 30 countries worldwide. The Chlorine Producing Unit is a simple device that uses nothing more than water, salt, and a 12-volt power source to make chlorine by the process of electrolysis. Chlorine has been used in the United States to disinfect water for about 90 years. It is very effective in killing the bacteria that can be found in many water sources around the world. Just five ounces of chlorine can make 250 gallons of water safe to drink. SWIM relies on organizations like Rotary to assemble the CPUs. An assembly line with eight stations can quickly put together a unit. In the past, individuals from the ages of 12 to 92 have been involved in helping build these units. The public event event will be held in the social hall on the lower level of Decorah Lutheran Church. No special skills are required. All equipment and materials will be provided. To register, please visit https://decorahrotary.org/event/swim-device-assembly-event/. Stay ahead of the curve! Subscribe to free newsletters for exclusive insights, local trends and analysis delivered straight to your inbox.