Nexnet

 And now staff and visitors have helped to provide 38.5 million gallons of clean water for some of the poorest people in Africa through sales of Thirsty Planet charity water in The Deep’s cafe and restaurant. 

 

For every bottle of Thirsty Planet that’s sold, a donation of 5p is made to the charity Pump Aid, which works with rural communities in Malawi and Zimbabwe to give them access to sustainable supplies of uncontaminated water. The Deep has recently raised enough money through Thirsty Planet sales to fund the materials for its first water pump which will be installed in the Rumphi district in the north of Malawi. Pump Aid has modelled its pumps, nicknamed Elephant pumps, on a 2,000-year-old Chinese design. They are simple and cost-effective to build and maintain, and each one can provide 2,200 gallons of water a day.  Their lifespan is estimated at 50 years.  All this for just £500 each.

 

Catering manager Jean Garton, who selected Thirsty Planet for The Deep, said:  “As part of our environmental policy we buy locally-produced or Fairtrade products whenever we can. Not only is Thirsty Planet sourced in Harrogate, it has the added benefit of allowing us to help people who get by with very little. We’re very proud to know our pump will improve the lives of hundreds of people and it’s spurred us on to get our second pump as soon as we can.

 

“Our visitors have shown a keen interest in Thirsty Planet and we often overhear them discussing the issues it raises.”

 

The recipients in Malawi can look forward to improved health and a better standard of living. On top of water for personal requirements an Elephant pump can supply enough to water livestock and irrigate vegetable gardens and fruit trees. This improves people’s diet and gives them a means to earn money by selling surplus produce at the market.

 

Paul Martin, managing director of Waterbrands, the parent company of Thirsty Planet, commented: “We’re delighted The Deep has joined the growing number of organisations which have committed themselves to helping some of the poorest people on the planet. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to raise our profile and that our charity partner Pump Aid among the hundreds of thousands of visitors who experience the magic of The Deep every year.”

 

Thirsty Planet was launched in March 2007 and within three months of launch became the best-selling good-cause bottled water. By August this year it had raised £1 million for Pump Aid. The pumps funded by this £1 million will supply 730 billion litres of water during their lifetime.

 

CAPTION: Pictured are Claire Lee, national account manager at Waterbrands, and Dan Colk, catering assistant at The Deep.

 

 

 

Issued on behalf of Thirsty Planet by Nexnet PR, Leeds, www.nexnet.co.uk. For further information call Carole Jackson on 0113 247 0029, or email carole.jackson@nexnet.co.uk

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