When natural disaster strikes, it is most often water that kills.
Whether it is the lack of safe water to drink or the overwhelming amounts that overtake communities, water is responsible for 90 percent of the deaths following a natural disaster.
ITT Corporation has decided to do something about that.
On October 20, 2008 at WEFTEC in Chicago, ITT announced a strategic partnership with Mercy Corps and Water for People as part of its corporate philanthropy program. The partnership and program, ITT Watermark, includes a three-year, $1 million commitment to help provide safe water during emergencies created by natural catastrophes such as floods, droughts and earthquakes.
“We are passionate about business, but also committed to a greater cause,” says Colin Sabol, Vice President, ITT Fluid Technology. “Water is our business every day, and ITT is passionate about giving back to the community we serve. When disaster strikes, what people need is a deployable, rugged treatment system. We can provide that for them.”
It is sobering to think of the natural disasters we have witnessed in our lifetime, including the Indian Ocean tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and the recent China earthquake. We often see companies in our industry step up to do what they can to help meet the water needs of the affected communities.
It is encouraging to see corporations identify a problem and then spring into action to use their resources to help solve it. At a time when the global economy seems to monopolize our attention, it is heartwarming to realize that many companies turn their focus from making money to making a difference.