Alert Labs, Kitchener, Ontario-based maker of smart sensors, is now supporting First Nations communities to make drinking water safe. For the month beginning March 22 on World Water Day, until Earth Day on April 22, the company is donating $25 for every online sale of their water sensor, Flowie, to the Water First Internship program. In an effort to champion responsible water treatment education, Alert Labs has partnered with the internship initiative to engage First Nations youth in skills training around water treatment technology.
“Access to clean water is a basic human right,” said Ruth Casselman, Alert Labs COO and co-founder. “In searching for global programs supporting water initiatives, we were surprised to find such an urgent need in our own backyard. We are very honoured to partner with Water First to support their local water training initiatives.”
There are 10 First Nations youth currently enrolled in the Internship program in order to learn about water treatment. Graduates gain certifications that allow them to work in the water treatment industry and in areas such as environmental stewardship.
John Millar, executive director of Water First, says, “The donation from Alert Labs will help us expand the Water First Internship, which trains and supports the next generation of Indigenous water operators in northern First Nations communities.”
A donation of $25 from every sale of the Flowie water sensor on Alert Labs’ website will help expand the 18-month pilot program, currently running on Manitoulin Island. Flowie is a smart sensor that is strapped on a water meter to monitor water use in real-time. It helps water conservation by identifying how water is being wasted and by detecting leaks that cause water damage. On average, Flowie has reduced customers’ water use by 18 per cent by identifying sources of wasted water in homes and businesses.
Founded in 2009, Water First started as a clean drinking water project in Uganda. Working with First Nations communities in Canada since 2012, the organization helps resolve water challenges by implementing skills training programs in First Nations communities. Water First works closely with First Nations communities to integrate Indigenous values, customs, and traditions into their training programs.
For more information visit alertlabs.com.
