The high quality of the purification process is visually indicated by the instant colorless water that results.

PUR works by a dual mode process: flocculation (to remove organic residues from the water) and chlorination (to remove viruses, bacteria, and parasites). The high quality of the purification process is visually indicated by the instant colorless water that results. 
 

The chlorine is time-released meaning the purification process continues even after the water had been treated allowing the purified water to be stored and used as needed. 

Each sachet of PUR can purify ten liters of ground water in less than ten minutes. Studies conducted by Hopkins researchers showed that PUR reduced diarrhea incidence by 90% in households that used the product versus control households that did not use the product (Doocy 2005).  No harmful effects of the product were reported in the study.   
 

Funding

Initial funding will be applied to procure and distribute PUR.  Additional funding will be needed to educate the populations on the effective use and health benefits of the product. The Procter and Gamble Health Sciences Institute has agreed to allow us procure the product at the humanitarian price of $0.035 in quantities of one million sachets. 

Potential benefits of initial investment

Distribution, Logistics, and Education   
The effort will initially be geared to toward product acceptance in the rural areas of Liberia. To do this we will focus on small scale distribution. Three towns, one in the suburb of Monrovia, one in Lofa and one in Cape Mount County will be selected as pilot sites. These sites are selected because we can more easily get assistance from the local people due to ties in these areas. As the product has already been tested in Liberia, there will be no need for controlled scientific studies.   
 

During the pilot program, motorized vehicular transport and water storage equipment will be needed to purify, transport and store water properly.  By helping provide water containers to families in need, we hope to help families quickly accept PUR as a method for purifying their water.  Word of mouth, radio, and newspaper advertising will help quickly spread the news about the benefits of PUR.  
 

Long Term Outlook  
We hope to make PUR available to all rural Liberians. This will be an undertaking that will require significant investment. It is our hope to eventually enlist the help of the government of Liberia and the United Nations to undertake a country-wide launch of PUR. Possible solution is to secure a manufacturing license from The Procter and Gamble Health Sciences Institute and set up a small factory in Liberia to manufacture the product. 

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