Four million Kenyans are being given safe drinking water by a European company specialising in products designed to prevent water-borne, vector-borne and neglected tropical diseases.

Vestergaard Frandsen will fully fund the "Carbon For WaterÔ" programme, donating close to one million LifeStraw® Family water filters in households in the Western Province of Kenya.

The free distribution programme will reach about 90% of all homes without access to clean water, giving a family of four safe drinking water for at least three years.

And because there will no longer be a need to treat water by boiling it using wood fuel, this programme should also lead to two million tons of carbon emission reductions annually.

All this can be done at no cost to local residents, governmental agencies or donor groups - Vestergaard Frandsen will be reimbursed with carbon financing.

If you’re wondering how this works (and I was) here’s the "science".

Carbon financing gives carbon credits to companies in developed countries who sponsor programmes which reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries.

These carbon credits can then be sold to carbon credit buyers who want to reduce their carbon footprint or improve their environmental stewardship. Most of the money generated is then reinvested into the project to make it sustainable for at least ten years.

Clever, isn't it? 

Almost 1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water leading to life-threatening diseases, particularly amongst children, according to 2010 World Health Organisation data.

Mr. Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen said: "Innovative and sustainable solutions to the global water crisis are critically important. We are hopeful that the Carbon For WaterÔ program will also have a positive impact not only on diarrhoea disease but also reducing respiratory disease by reducing particulate matter in the homes, a major killer of children in Kenya and the developing world.

"The use of the LifeStraw® Family water filter (seen above) can reduce child mortality and improve maternal health by providing access to safe drinking water".

Because we're all worth it...

[Image: uncultured]