Sheffield Company Provides Water Aid to Africa

31st January 2014

A community in Zimbabwe is now benefitting from clean drinking water, thanks to a donation through AquAid by Sheffield-based President Engineering Group (PEGL).

President Engineering Group installed three AquAid water coolers in its offices over two years ago, with a donation being made to AquAid's Africa Trust for every bottle of water the company purchases. The result of this is that AquAid has been able to buy an Elephant Pump on PEGL's behalf for the province of Manicaland, bringing clean, fresh drinking water to members of the community. Mark Henley, Managing Director at President Engineering Group, said: -It is fantastic to think that a community in Zimbabwe is able to have its own fresh drinking water well, thanks to the donations we have been able to make by buying water for staff to drink in our factory and offices. It is part of our corporate social responsibility to put back into the community and it is great to be able to support such a worthwhile project in Africa. The Elephant Pumps that AquAid provide are vital to communities such as this one in Manicaland. The Elephant Pumps are also used by millions of people in over seven thousand other communities. The Africa Trust is working towards providing clean water, through the Elephant Pumps, for over 10% of the entire population of Zimbabwe, through donations by companies such as PEGL. Fern Shaw, AquAid Africa, said: -It is so important that AquAid receives help from companies like PEGL. It makes a huge difference to people's lives in these communities where they may otherwise have to walk several miles to find water and even then, may find it contaminated. It is only through the ongoing support of businesses that we are able to continue to carry out this vital work. The Elephant Pump is based on a 2,000 year old Chinese design that has been adapted to be made stronger, more durable and from local materials available in rural sub-Saharan African communities. For further information on AquAid visit the website www.aquaidwatercoolers.co.uk