SODIS

SODIS (Simply Outstanding Demonstration of (I)nvironmental Savvy)
SODIS (Sarah Ousts Damaging Infections from System)
SODIS (Sick Of Diarrhea In Stomach)
SODIS (Some Outsider’s DoIng Something strange (again))

Translated into Spanish:

WTGDOMR (What’s That Gringo Doing On My Roof?)
Or

INDT (I’m Not Drinking That)

What does SODIS mean really? I don’t remember (sorry Peace Corps!). However, that doesn’t matter. SODIS can still save the world. You do the math:

One of the most common causes of death in children under five is diarrhea.
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Diarrhea comes from parasitic, bacterial, and viral infections.
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Most of these infections come from drinking unclean water.
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Much of the world does not have access to clean drinking water.
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You can purify water by boiling it.
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Boiling water is expensive and bad for the environment.
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You can purify water by adding iodine or chlorine.
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Iodine and chlorine are expensive, and often cities say they add it when they don’t.
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BIG CLEAN WATER PROBLEM = SODIS.

SODIS is an easy, effective, and cheap way to purify water that uses nothing more than the sun to get rid of the harmful critters that cause diarrhea.

Steps for SODIS:

Take a 2- 3 litre clear, plastic bottle.
Fill it ALL THE WAY up with water (leave no room for air).
Screw on the top.
Put it on your (preferably metal) roof.
If it’s sunny, leave it out for a day.
If it’s cloudy, leave it out for 2-3 days.
Take it off the roof and enjoy water without diarrhea!

The other great thing about SODIS is that it works best in hot climates with plenty of sunlight. Much of the world’s poor lives in such a climate. I’ve been drinking SODIS water for three days now, and so far so good. I’ll keep you posted.