Voltas Water Solutions launches #StandUpForWater movement

Driving a multi-organisational effort to provide safe water to millions
On the occasion of World Water Day 2016 (March 22nd), Voltas Water Solutions (VWS), a 50:50 Joint Venture between Voltas (a Tata Enterprise) and Dow Chemical Pacific, Singapore (a member of the Dow Group of Companies) renewed its commitment to helping provide access to safe water to millions of people across communities in India. To this end, VWS has launched its #StandUpForWater movement, which aims to provide 100 organizations with a Water ATM this summer, and urges comm unities and stakeholders to pledge their participation in this effort.
As of today, VWS has received 10 pledges from funders such as Tata Trust, Tata Power and GMR, among others; as well as 50 pledges from affected organizations, primarily schools. The pledge is a commitment to contribute to #StandUpForWater by funding Water ATMs, a smart engineered product from Voltas.
The Water ATM features a conveniently-located coin- or smartcard-operated dispenser, and can provide up to 2000 litres per day of pure and safe drinking water, at a mere 10-20 paisa per liter. It aims to relieve men and women from spending hours daily in fetching water, often from ground-water sources that are contaminated, spreading water-borne diseases.
The Voltas Water ATM is thus a safe, durable and secure source of purified drinking water for communities and public places, with distinctive features such as
• Low operating cost making it self-sustainable
• 8 stages of filtration including reverse osmosis
• Reduction of bacteria and viruses by 99.99%
• Can be placed by a local entrepreneur or through a sponsorship model.
#StandUpForWater is part of VWS' ongoing effort to protect the human right to clean water. It allows any organization or community to sign the pledge and become a part of the movement by funding a Water ATM. For this purpose, VWS has partnered with Dhriti Foundation, with its robust implementation plan that engages with the community to assess and establish need, and conduct pre and post studies to quantify impact on beneficiaries.
Commenting on the movement, Mr. Manas Vijh, Head, Operations, Voltas Water Solutions, said, " Lack of safe drinking water is affecting millions of people across communities; and access to clean drinking water is everyone's right. #StandUpForWater is our initiative to harness organisational resources to help counter the problem. The theme is particularly apt in light of the UN theme for World Water Day, namely Water and Jobs. Its focus is on how sufficient quantity and quality of water can change workers' lives and livelihoods, and even transform societies and economies. We at VWS are proud to do our share to bring about water-use efficiency, preserve water resources, and provide public access to clean water."