PuR Purifier of Water is a low cost and simple-to-use in-home water purification technology that visually clarifies the water and reduces pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and parasites to result in drinking water that meets World Health Organization guidelines. An estimated 2 million children die each year because of diarrheal diseases, many of which could be prevented by safe drinking water. P&G is currently providing PuR Purifier of Water to global relief agencies so they can provide drinking water in emergency situations. PuR has been used in Botswana, Chad, Malawi, Liberia and Zimbabwe. PuR Purifier of Water is also being tested in several markets to learn how it can be provided on a sustainable basis in the developing world.
The Millennium Development Goals were established by world leaders at the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000. They consist of eight primary goals including: universal primary education, promotion of gender equality, the eradication of extreme hunger, improved maternal health, environmental sustainability, and the reduction of child mortality. Goal number 7 is to ensure environmental sustainability and includes the target of reducing by half the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water by 2015. Today more than one billion people lack access to safe drinking water, so meeting this target is a significant challenge. PuR has the potential to begin to address this issue.