2005 Dominican Republic Water Project
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
April 2 - April 9, 2005

The 2004 Team Recap

In March, fourteen volunteers from five different District 6970 Rotary clubs went to the Dominican Republic to continue effort of bringing clean drinking water to local DR villages. The volunteers committed to paying their own expenses and one week of labor to assemble point of use filters. The filters will be distributed around the village of Sabanta de Yasica. The volunteers were able to stay with native families or at the resort Sosua by the Sea based upon their preferences.

Funds for the project came from individual Rotary clubs, District 6970 matching grants, grants from community foundations and the Dominican Republic Rotary clubs. This year, $64,000 was raised for the effort. Those funds were used to:

1. Purchase sufficient materials to construct 1,000 filter sets
2. Purchase a motorcycle to be used to distribute the filters
3. Purchase land to construct a shop to store supplies and construct the filters
4. Hire two technicians, whose responsibility will be to provide educational support, distribute the filters and provided maintenance and repairs for the filters.

The goal in 2005 is to assemble 2,000 water filters for distribution.

Distribution of the filters will have a positive impact on the communities that receive them, however there are two important issues that have to be addressed in the longer term. The first is to demonstrate the efficacy of the filters. Our water project to date has been a small-scale pilot project. To generate major funding grants, a study will be needed to demonstrate that the filters are having a positive impact on the health of the families using them. Representatives of the CDC were present on the March trip to gain an understanding of the point of use technologies available and to assist with structuring the study. The cost of the study will be significant, funding sources for the study are being explored.

The second issue is sustainability. No effort can sustain itself if dependent on constant outside support. One of the goals of the effort is to reduce the cost of the filters by increasing the content of the filters that are produced locally. As the health benefits become apparent and the cost of the filters decline, a local industry will grow up around the filters. What can you do as an Individual or a Rotary Club?

1. Ask a member of the Dominican Republic Rotary Team to speak at your Rotary Club. We have a PowerPoint presentation and are willing to share the experience of helping others.
2. A fourth trip to the Dominican Republic is scheduled for April 2nd through the 9th, 2005. Volunteer to join the group and see first hand how Rotary is improving the quality of life in the Third World. Spouses are welcome!
3. Solicit a $1,000 or more contribution from your Club to continue the work already in started. Make a personal contribution.
4. If you are aware of any community foundations that would consider a grant to support the DR water project, contact one of the individuals below.
5. Volunteer to help get the work out about this terrific project! Your time is as valuable as your contributions.

DR Water Project Contact Information

General Inquiries
Rob Overly
Phone -- 904-396-0266
E-Mail --

To Schedule a Club Presentation
Ken Weiss
Phone -- 904-725-6140
E-mail --

Ron Jackson
Phone -- 904-398-9880
E-mail --

Brochure for this year's trip.

More photos from last year's trip are available in the West Jacksonville Rotary Photoalbum.

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