In March, Roland Wanigatunga, a Sunrise Rotarian and former president of the Colombo West Rotary in Sri Lanka, went to his home country to oversee distribution of 40 solar-powered water purifiers.

At the beginning of the year, less than two weeks after the Dec. 26 tsunami ravaged areas around the Indian Ocean, Wanigatunga tried to order purifiers, but found that the supply was too low because so many organizations were buying them for relief efforts.

Instead of patiently waiting, he focused his efforts on fundraising, and managed to raise almost $800,000.

"Money came in--not only from Rotarians and Rotary groups, but from people all over the country who we'd never met," Wanigatunga said.

With that money, the Rotary purchased 40 $16,000 purifiers. The units weigh about 65 pounds apiece and run on solar energy.

"They should have a life span of about 10 years," Wanigatunga said. "All they'll need to do is change the filters every two years."

Wanigatunga used his local connections and Rotary status to work with Colombo West to find organizations and individuals who could be trusted to operate the purifiers.

"It was very difficult early on when we got there, travel was all right, but it was difficult to find suitable people to take over the units," Wanigatunga said. "They're valuable pieces of equipment, and if they weren't taken care of, they'd be stolen."

The units were set up in hospitals, monasteries and anywhere else someone could care for them and responsibly distribute the water.

With the leftover funds--more than $150,000--Wanigatunga said Rotary will purchase four massive water purifiers to aid people in the heavily hit southern provinces. Each of those units--made by General Electric--costs $30,000 and can provide water for 150,000 people each day.