Clean Water and Ending Polio 
World Polio Day is on October 24. Polio can be spread by drinking water that is contaminated by feces from an infected person. Food washed by contaminated water is also a source of infection.

In recognition of World Polio Day, WASRAG is holding a contest to recognize projects that improve the quality of water and/or increase the level of awareness of the need for clean water. 
 
Two prizes of $500 each will be awarded to the Project with Most Impact and the the Most Innovative Project. Entries need to be submitted by December 1, 2018. Winners will be announced in February 2019. 
 
For contest details visit World Polio Day Competition.
Save the Date - May 31, 2019 
Just before the Rotary International Convention starts, WASRAG pulls together top-notch speakers for plenary, breakout, and round table discussions. This year on May 31, 2019 in Hamburg, Germany World Water Summit 11 will be focusing on WASH: Achieving Lasting Impact. This is a great topic especially as Rotary International places increasing emphasis on sustainability.
 
Register TODAY by going to World Water Summit 11.  
Small District Grant has Big Impact 
Most of the Club projects we highlight in the WASRAG newsletters focus on international projects. However, sometimes it is the small local projects that target educating youth on water and sanitation issues that have a long term impact on stimulating a young person to become a future advocate and/or Rotarian.

For under $1,000 the Rotary Club of Columbus and Fall River, in Wisconsin, coordinated four field trips involving grade three students and two Interact clubs. 

To read more about the project read this article in the WASRAG Stories.  



WASRAG Ambassadors   
Past District Governor and WASRAG Ambassador Ashok Bihari Mohapatra was recently involved in a hand washing program at the Primary and Middle School in the  Village of Tarra, India. About 300 third to eighth grade students were taught hand washing before and after their mid-day meal. 

Last year, WASRAG introduced an Ambassador program. The Ambassadors work in their local area to be a resource to clubs and districts planning water and sanitation projects. Learn more about the WASRAG Ambassador program 



WASH in Guatemala   
In February 2018, The Rotary Foundation awarded $562,000 to the  Club Rotario Guatemala Sur, Rotary Club of Antigua, Rotary District 4250 and Barrington Breakfast Rotary Club, Rotary District 6440 to address Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Schools (WinS).

The plan is to provide almost 16,000 children, between the ages of 3 to 18, in 48 schools in the Sacatepéquez department of Guatemala, with access to clean water and sanitation facilities. There will also be emphasis on education and training for health, hygiene and menstrual health management.

Read in the WASRAG Stories their plans to make an impact on the boys and especially girls in this community.
WASH in Healthcare Facilities   
District 5450, the Rotary CLub of Denver SE, and the Rotary Club of Littleton have organized a jam-packed program on the theme WASH and Healthcare facilities on Sat Oct. 6 in Denver Co.  To learn more visit 2018WASHSymposium.com

The Emory University, Center for Global Safe Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene has developed an excellent website ( http://washconhcf.org/ ) focused on the topic of WASH in Healthcare Facilities.  Over the coming year, they will be producing a monthly webinar on the topic of WASH in healthcare facilities. You can view past webinars and sign-up to be notified of upcoming webinars by going to WASH in HCF Webinars 
SMART Symposium   
SMART stands for Simple, Market-based, Affordable, Repairable, Technologies. Smart training centers for water and sanitation are located in Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. Soon more will be added in Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan. 

On November 13 to 15, 2018, in Mzuzu, Malawi, they will be holding a practical symposium that will train participants in key aspects of the SMART approach with a focus on WASH projects.

The symposium will share 25 years of lessons learned in rural development using the SMART approach that have benefited over 10 million people.  

Visit the SMART Centre Group website to learn more about this group. Follow this link to get the PDF and to register for the SMART Symposium 
A Scientific Book about Water   
Professor Elena Otazo, of the Higaldo State Autonomous University, Mexico, recently contacted WASRAG about a scientific book being written on Water Management. 

She is looking for researchers and academics to propose chapters for the book and to contribute as authors. If you are interested in being a contributing writer, contact Elena Otazo at  elenamariaotazo@gmail.com.

WASRAG Newsletter On-line Archive  
Back issues of the WASRAG Newsletter are stored at http://www.wasrag.org/
Calendar Of Event  
Oct 6, 2018 - WASH Symposium - Denver, CO, USA
WASH and Health Care Facilities

Oct 24 - Oct 28, 2018 - River Clean-Up Challenge 

Oct 29 - Nov 2, 2018 - Water and Health 2018 - Chapel Hill, NC. USA

Nov 10, 2018 - Global Run 4 Water - Cary, NC, USA
https://www.rotarydistrict7710rotaryglobalrun4water.com/

Nov 13-15 - SMART Symposium - Mzuzu, Malawi

Dec 1, 2018 - DEADLINE for entering the World Polio Day Competition

April 26-28, 2019 - Latrine Workshop - Clarkston, MI, USA

May 31, 2019 - World Water Summit 11 - Hamburg, Germany
WASH: Achieving Lasting Impact
Become a WASRAG Member
Developing Best Practices guidelines for water, sanitation, and hygiene projects; maintaining the www.WASRAG.org  website; supporting the WASRAG Professional Services Team; and creating this newsletter are some of the benefits of becoming a WASRAG member. 
 
Follow this link to Become a Member.  To  check whether your membership has expired, email Anna Shepherd .

To join the mailing list for this newsletter, follow this link to subscribe.
To submit stories and pictures for the Newsletter email:  info@wasrag.org.
The Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group (WASRAG) is pleased to consider partnerships with any corporate supporter. Due to the unique attributes of water sources and water provision, acceptance of corporate support does not imply an endorsement of any particular water technology. Rotarians, Rotary clubs, and Rotary partners must evaluate any technology to determine if it is the best solution for the conditions where the program will be implemented. WASRAG can provide guidance about where different technologies work best, but Rotarians and Rotary clubs must make the final decision about how to implement their programs.