WaterStep's Impact In Africa Grows As The Need For Disinfectant Skyrockets During Pandemic

Louisville-based WaterStep has seen a drastic rise in the need for its patented BleachMakers since COVID-19 hit the world earlier this year. The BleachMaker generates powerful disinfectant strong enough to sanitize medical clinics and stop the spread of COVID-19.

WaterStep has deployed 126 BleachMakers to local and domestic organizations and 334 BleachMakers to its partners around the world fighting the pandemic. The organization estimates that its COVID response efforts since March have impacted approximately 115,275 people in the U.S. and 355,900 people worldwide.

The shipment of 200 BleachMakers that went to WaterStep’s partners in East and Central Africa in June and July have already been distributed. WaterStep Ambassador Raphael Wanjala has been working with governmental leaders to get the equipment in 5 different communities, providing over 7,000 people with access to bleach disinfectant. Raphael’s team also provides handwashing stations and training on proper handwashing techniques and hygiene practices to help to stop the spread of disease.

WaterStep Ambassador Humphrey Muchuma and his team in Kenya are supplying bleach to 300 hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities in the Bungoma County area. While WaterStep Field Consultant Jean Claude Luhere with Helping Hands for Survivors is providing BleachMakers to medical facilities throughout the DR Congo.

WaterStep’s award-winning portable BleachMaker was created to combat the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. It is a handheld device that produces disinfectant strong enough to meet the world health organization’s standards, and is used to sanitize hospitals and medical clinics, kitchens and cooking surfaces, clothing. The patented device is powered by water, table salt, and an electric source, and it can generate a gallon of concentrated bleach in an hour.

The BleachMaker was designed by a group of engineers from the University of Louisville, the Louisville Water Company and General Electric’s FirstBuild Innovation Center who worked with WaterStep to develop the powerful disinfectant tool. It was funded by the Louisville Water Foundation, UPS and GE. WaterStep’s BleachMaker won the Environmental Protection’s Award for New Product of the Year in 2016.

Since 1995, WaterStep has been developing, manufacturing and deploying effective tools to provide safe water, sanitation and health in the developing world, disasters, epidemics and pandemics. The products are coupled with training programs and a global network of partners in order to provide sustainable solutions for healthier environments for people, organizations and communities. To donate to WaterStep, visit waterstep.org/donate. 

About WaterStep
WaterStep, headquartered in Louisville, KY, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that believes everyone should have access to safe water and that no one should suffer from waterborne illnesses. WaterStep implements water projects and equips people with tools and training in water purification, disaster relief, health education, and well repair. Since its founding in 1995, WaterStep has brought safe water to more than 3 million people in over 55 countries. For more information, visit waterstep.org.