Oil Patch Bits: Nalco celebrates World Water Day with grants

Nalco said Mach 22 that it recognizes clean water is a necessity both for human survival and for economic growth. In recognition of the United Nations’ annual World Water Day, the Nalco Foundation has approved two multiyear grants funding important water programs in both countries.

A three-year, $450,000 grant to World Wildlife Fund U.S. will fund a water stewardship program to identify solutions to protect Taihu Lake, the third largest freshwater lake in China and a primary water source for more than 33 million people living in and around Shanghai. Taihu Lake is part of the Yangtze River basin, the source of water for 400 million people.

“Freshwater conservation and overall water quality improvement are important steps to solving growing water scarcity needs worldwide, but especially so in countries like India and China, facing stress from the combination of rapid economic and population growth,” said Nalco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Erik Fyrwald.

The Foundation is also providing a three-year grant for $500,000 to Water For People, a nonprofit international development organization founded in 1991. The money will help fund water, sanitation and hygiene programs in West Bengal and Bihar India.

Since 2004, the Nalco Foundation has made more than $1 million in total grants to Water For People.