Published: October 31, 2008 10:36 am      

Water for the world

Tracy Frahm, of Miles, raised pheasants and partridges for hunting for 16 years.

Last year, when her son, who had helped her with the business, went to college, she decided to get out of the commercial game bird business.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I felt like I had been very blessed in my life. I have a nice home, a nice family. We’re all healthy. We have everything we need,” said Frahm, adding, “And I felt that this was the time of my life that I should maybe give back to the greater good.”

Frahm decided she wanted to make an impact. For years she has volunteered and offered her help locally. She served on the volunteer ambulance in Miles as an EMT.

“And I wanted to go more out in the world, see the world, learn about different cultures, do something to help people who are less fortunate than I am that don’t live in the United States. But I didn’t know how I could do that,” said Frahm.

Frahm’s project had actually come to her a year or so before when a friend, Jim Sievers, of Washington, Iowa, brought his 4003 tool case kit from the International Water Management Systems pure water program. Sievers showed her how the chlorine generator unit can help provide drinkable water for people who may not have any.

The IWMS, a subsidiary of Hays Water Science, LLC, was started in 2000 by John and Mary Hays. John Hays had been desiring to “make a difference in the world through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ,” according to the IWMS Web site, http://www.iwmsystems.com. Hays heard 25,000 people were dying every day somewhere in the world and he decided he was going to do something to change those figures. He began developing various water chlorination systems to respond to the need for safer drinking water.

The Khlor Gen 3000, a small hand-held unit was created by Hays. This past summer, the “Pure Water For All Foundation” was set up as a non-profit corporation to provide missions and churches, as well as individuals, the opportunity to purchase and distribute this unit to those who are suffering everyday and dying because of the lack of safe drinking water.

“This is really kind of a mom and pop, grassroots organization. John developed the chlorine producing unit and he and his wife had been taking it to third-world countries,” said Frahm.

At the time that Sievers showed her the unit, Frahm considered trying to get her church to pay for a unit. However, due to her busy schedule, the idea fell by the wayside. After her decision to quit the commercial game business, Frahm thought of the program and contacted Sievers for more information.

Frahm found herself in contact with Hays and told him she wanted to help. In the past, various teams had worked to raise money and awareness about the project. However, Frahm noted, one team may not let another team know who they had contacted about donations. Frahm, who graduated in 1986 from Iowa State with a marketing degree, is now in charge of communicating with organizations and individuals about the “Pure Water For All Foundation.”

“I didn’t want to be gone all the time from mission trips. So I’m going to kind of start out slowly and try to get the word out and talk to a lot of groups about it,” said Frahm.

Her first mission trip will be in March to Guerro, Mexico.

The organization has traveled to various places across the world. Currently, the group is planning a third trip to Burma with 80 units. Frahm said the foundation is trying to collect enough donations for the units. A total of 300,000 meals, pledged by “Kids Against Hunger,” and medical supplies will also be brought to the country.

“Every penny of donations that this foundation receives goes directly for cost of unit and travel expenses for the teams to get there,” said Frahm.

The Khlor Gen 3000 uses 12 volts of electricity and salt to create chlorine to purify drinking water. Metal screens in the unit are hooked up to a battery and electrified. When salt water is poured through the unit, chlorine comes out into the bottom. Frahm described the process as being very simple.

Variations of the unit are available. The process requires 12 volts of electricity. The unit is versatile and can come with a car battery to power it or battery chargers. For people using the battery charger without electricity to charge it, solar panel are also available. Depending on what package an area needs, the unit can cost from $190 to $590. The project also offers a bio-sand filter to help separate out any large pieces of debris that could be in the drinking water. Frahm said this unit is a great step in helping people in Third World countries.

“Salt is readily available and inexpensive throughout the entire world. And ocean water could even be used,” said Frahm. She then added, “So this way they can produce their own chlorine with what they have available.”

Frahm said one liter of chlorine produced by the unit can purify 50,000 liters of drinking water. She said this means one unit can provide enough safe drinking water for approximately 5,000 people.

“Water is a very, very basic life need. If you don’t have clean water and food to eat, you’re already in trouble,” said Frahm. She is planning several talks about the “Pure Water For All Foundation,” including one to the Clinton Rotary Club on Dec. 1. She said anyone interested in scheduling a talk and demonstration or wanting more information can call her at (563) 682-7405. She hopes people get involved in the program.

“I think in this country we take a lot of things for granted and the availability of clean water is one of them,” said Frahm, adding, “Imagine if you had to not only drink from the river or the stream, but in some places they have to walk five miles just to obtain a bucket of water.”