The Mathews Rotary Club was recently awarded a $47,735 Global Grant, the first such grant ever given by Rotary International’s Strategic Water Alliance to a Rotary Club in the United States.
Rotary’s Strategic Water Alliance has traditionally funded water projects in developing nations such as those found in Africa and South America, where women often walk many miles every day for water. In those cases, said Rotarian Ron Lambert, Rotary Clubs in the United States have often donated funding to help build community wells and public sanitation systems.
In Mathews, the grant will support the establishment of seven water stations in the county in partnership with Water Pro of Gloucester in order to provide clean, safe drinking water for residents who don’t have access to it. The project is expected to directly benefit between 1,000 and 2,499 residents, said a press release from Rotary International.
Lambert and fellow Rotarian Bill Stearns explained that the grant will enable Mathews Rotary to continue an effort begun in late 2023 by the Mathews Community Foundation’s Mathews Against Poverty Initiative, “Water for Everyone,” which resulted in five water stations in the county that provide clean, bacteria-free water to everyone at no cost. Those stations are located at Kingston Parish on Main Street, the Piankatank Ruritan Club, the West Mathews Community League, Mathews Chapel United Methodist Church, and Salem Church Mathews in Diggs.
Rotary International said in its release that Mathews, the second smallest county in Virginia, with a population of around 8,233 residents, faces serious challenges related to water quality and access to running water.
“Many residents struggle with unsafe drinking water, while some families and homeless individuals lack running water entirely,” said the release.
Lambert estimated that there are around 800 homes in Mathews without running water inside, where people might get their water from an inground bowl or untested well water. There are at least four homeless encampments where no water is available, he said, and there are hundreds of properties where the houses are no longer liveable and people live in a trailer or tent on their property.
The new and upgraded stations will include the same equipment as the existing ones—UV light filtration systems and equipment improvements designed to provide sustainable, long-term solutions, said the release. The board of supervisors has committed $2,500 annually for 10 years to support ongoing maintenance, while a local family has donated $30,000 toward ongoing repairs to the equipment and quarterly inspections, said Lambert. Churches, community organizations, and Rotary members will help oversee the sites through a committee.
The project “reflects a powerful collaboration between District 7610 Strategic Water Alliance Member Rotary clubs, local supporters, and international Rotary partners,” said the release. Each SWA club is contributing $500 toward the effort, while Rotary partners in Zambia and India provided an additional $5,000 in support to fulfil the requirement that each Global Grant have sponsors from at least two other countries that contribute 15 percent of the total cost of the project.
The new water stations will be located at Haskins Bayside Service Center in Port Haywood, Living Waters Church at Dutton, Ocean Products at Diggs, Mathews Volunteer Fire Department Station 3 on Gwynn’s Island, Bethel Church of Mathews at Onemo, Antioch Baptist Church at Susan, and Emmaus Baptist Church at North. Work is expected to begin in June, after the funding is disbursed.
One of the requirements for the grant is to demonstrate behavioral change in Mathews because of the project, said Lambert, and toward that end, Rotary will have a Clean Water Week in September, providing free water testing and other activities.
“We want people to drink clean water,” said Lambert. “We want them to get their water tested if they doubt the quality of the water.”
And it looks as though they’re doing exactly that. As of Sunday, Mathews residents had withdrawn 3,965 gallons of water from the Kingston water station over the 15 weeks since it was installed on Feb. 2. That’s just over 38 gallons per day.
Rotary International said in its press release that “Beyond improving water quality, this project brings hope, better health, and stronger communities to Mathews County, demonstrating Rotary’s commitment to creating lasting change through Service Above Self.”