One of the world’s most pressing challenges is to provide safe, affordable drinking water in the developing world. A unique business model supported by Dow intends to do just that, through patented, low-cost ultraviolet (UV) technology.
Dow is providing $30 million of loan guarantees to support the financing of up to 2,000 WaterHealth International (WHI) community water systems, serving 11 million people without access to safe drinking water in rural India. This modular system is effective for villages from 2,000 to 10,000 residents
This innovative use of Dow capital enables clean drinking water AND enables economic self-sufficiency through local ownership after a loan repayment period. The WHI business model is to provide the entire package to rural village governments. WHI and associated NGOs provide education in advance about the benefits of clean water, then WHI arranges for system financing, installs the systems, hires and trains local operators, provides system maintenance, collects the revenues for the sale of water, and coordinates loan repayment from the collected funds. After approximately eight years, the initial loan is repaid, the village owns the system, and the revenue stream can support other development projects.
This is just one example of how the Human Element at Dow is contributing to more sustainable chemistry solutions; for more, please visit http://www.dow.com/commitments/studies/index.htm
