Latin American and Caribbean Water Prize Winner: SODIS Foundation
Under the leadership of Mr. Marcelo Encalada Torres
Mr. Marcelo Encalada, Director of the SODIS Foundation in Ecuador, receiving the 2006 PLACA Water Prize from Mr. Emilio Sempris, Director of CATHALAC.
Since 2001, the SODIS Foundation has been promoting Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS), a very simple method for obtaining safe water at the household level. Colorless plastic bottles are filled with water and exposed to sunshine for 6 hours. The synergy between the effect of elevated temperature and sunshine UVA radiation disinfect the water. The method only requires plastic (PET) bottles commonly used for bottled water and soft drinks, and natural sunshine
Latin American and Caribbean Junior Water Prize Winner: Jesús María Community, Ecuador
Under the leadership of Ms. Gabriela Tuárez Vera
Ms. Gabriela Tuárez Vera representing the youth of Jesus Maria Community in Ecuador, receiving the 2006 PLACA Junior Water Prize from Mr. Matthew Carlson, Director of Plan International –ROA
Boys, girls and youngsters from the Jesus Maria community have developed and executed a Community Development Plan (CDP) that allows them to exercise their right to live in a healthy environment, framed by the work that is being done to recover the Portoviejo River basin led by the Provincial Council of Manabi and by the integral health plan led by the Portoviejo Canton Municipality.
As a result of this initiative, the entire community is motivated to find solutions for their environmental problems, generating a direct impact on the well-being of all the people involved.
