2005.04.06 - Effective on-the-spot aid: Süd-Chemie water treatment plants for flood-disaster victims

Following a decision taken by the district authorities in the Bavarian town of Altötting in mid-February to support reconstruction of the tsunami disaster area by supplying three "Aquacube“ water treatment plants produced by Süd-Chemie AG, Munich, the equipment was immediately transported to Indonesia and local operations successfully started. Two of the plants are located in Aceh Basar and Aceh Jayar, the third having been taken to Nias, an island to the west of Sumatra that was very severely hit by the most recent earthquake.

In total, the three plants supply clean drinking water for almost 10,000 people. In a letter of thanks, representatives of the Indonesian relief organisation Sampoerna Rescue stressed that, "Your donation is helping where it is most necessary, since as a result of the tidal wave, existing sources of water could no longer be used." Following training by Süd-Chemie, this organisation has taken over operation of the plants.

The key factor influencing the decision on the part of the Altötting district authorities to donate three water treatment plants was the positive reaction to the Aquacube drinking-water plant already donated by Süd-Chemie AG at the beginning of 2005. Together with Sampoerna Rescue, and with the support of the Indonesian army, two experienced Süd-Chemie employees organised the immediate transport and smooth start-up of the plant in the crisis area of Banda Aceh. By mid-January, the plant was already filtering up to 20,000 litres a day and supplying clean water to victims in the refugee camps.

Munich, 7 April 2005

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Süd-Chemie is an independent group operating in the field of speciality chemistry. Its core interests, which include energy, the environment and sparing use of resources, are promoted by the two divisions of Catalysts and Adsorbents. With some 5,000 employees active in more than sixty production and sales companies worldwide, sales of €763 million were generated in 2003.

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