For several years up to 1990 the Rotary Club of Wirksworth of Rotary District 1220 had been filling and despatching Emergency Boxes under the RIBI banner. These were simple flat pack plywood boxes filled and ready to send to disaster areas. 

In 1990 a member of the Wirksworth Club asked the question "Why use a wooden box?" It is not big enough to be useful for storage and the plywood does not even make a good fire. Why not have a strong plastic box that could be used afterwards for storage or as a table, seat etc? Another member added that with a hole in the side and a tap and purification system, it could be used for producing drinking water from polluted water.  

The idea of the AQUABOX was born. 

Later that year, Rotarian Peter Hare suggested the idea to the Club. He contemplated the possibility of having it accepted by Rotary District 1220 as an approved project, and that it might even be approved by RIBI. He suggested that they could launch the project and get sponsorship from other Rotary Clubs in the District and, perhaps, also from around the UK. The club members gave approval for a full brief to be prepared.  

Water filters and water purification tablets were off the shelf items but the box itself, to be of similar size to the EMERGENCY BOX, was not readily available. The only suitable box required an order of 3000 at a cost of £30,000. This represented a substantial commitment but the decision was made to go ahead. Support was sought from District and subsequently from all Rotary Clubs in the UK under the RIBI banner, whilst the members of the Rotary Club of Wirksworth agreed to underwrite any shortfall. 

AQUABOX was launched in October 1992 and, despite the initial hesitant co-operation of the Emergency Box organisation, there is now full co-operation with both the Emergency Box and the Shelter Box projects. In cases of natural disasters, such as in Mozambique in 2000 and India in 2001, all three projects have cooperated in arranging transportation facilities on a joint basis.

Warehouse facilities were then commissioned.  

During the year 1993/4 some 1000 boxes were sponsored and the initial order of 3,000 boxes was being well taken up. These initial boxes were not quite as satisfactory as had been hoped as they were insufficiently strong and some had been found to fracture. A new stronger improved box was designed and ordered. The new style boxes have continued to satisfy needs since that time.

Unlike Emergency Boxes, which are stored for distribution at the time of a disaster, water filters and water purification tablets have a limited shelf life of five years. Consequently, in addition to being sent to areas of natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes and floods etc., they are also sent to areas of continuing need, via reputable Aid Agencies who have monitors on the ground to receive and properly distribute the boxes and assure full utilization. 

Rapid growth followed, particularly in 1998/99 as a direct result of the 'Hurricane Mitch' initiative. By the end of that year total donations had increased to £426,687. Over 1000 boxes, including many AQUA30's, capable of purifying over 22 million litres of water, were shipped from the UK in less than 3 months thanks to over £237,000 raised within RIBI.  

Since the early launch years, AQUABOX has grown and by the millennium over 20,000 boxes had been provided to over 30 countries. It has become a significant 'business' in its own right with a dedicated distribution centre. By the end of the year 2001 over 31,000 boxes had been despatched. 

Though the project remains a stand-alone operation administered by the Directors and Members of Aquabox Ltd., all of who must be Members of the Rotary Club of Wirksworth, there is active support from Rotary clubs throughout Great Britain and Ireland and also from Inner Wheel Clubs, Churches, Schools, Youth Organisations and private individuals. 

Due to the rapid success of the project various refinements have been made over a period of years and various other aid agencies have been involved in receiving and monitoring boxes in areas of need.

By June 2000 the year's income was £528,843 and during the year over 7,000 boxes had been sent overseas. 

It was then decided that the time had been reached when Aquabox should have complete control in the distribution of all boxes, checking, filling and finally sending them overseas. 

In November 2000 they leased on a bay of a modern warehouse building from where all orders are now despatched every Saturday morning. All returned boxes come back to the private warehouse for holding EXCEPT THAT ALL BOXES ARE NOW CHECKED UPON RECEIPT to ensure that they have been correctly packed. 

Some areas assisted ....

At the end of January 2001 there were 2 severe earthquakes, one in El Salvador and one in Gujarat, India when  960 Aquaboxes, many of them AQUA30's, were dispatched by air and a further 520 to go by sea . The Methodist Missionary Society also sent a consignment of aid including 158 Aquaboxes. In addition about 45 Shelter boxes and about 300 Emergency boxes were also sent.

During March 2001, 400 boxes were sent to Kosovo. The Shelter Box project also arranged for a 40ft container, filled with 100 Shelter boxes, 100 Emergency boxes, 50 AQUA30's and 390 Standard Aquaboxes to go to India. 

In 1985 the Childrens’ Aid Direct agency took delivery of several hundred boxes that were sent to many countries in war torn Europe, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria and later Serbia and Kosova. 

Boxes have also been sent to disaster areas in many other countries including Honduras, Belize, Ghana, Turkey, Venezuela and Mozambique, often in partnership with other aid agencies. The organization has recently sent 200 boxes to devastated Haiti and hopes to send a further 650 shortly. 

For a fuller appreciation of the work carried out by the Organization check out Aquabox’s own Website. 

The Aquabox Overseas

During a visit to the UK in 1999 an Australian Rotarian heard of, and became interested in, the AQUABOX project. Consequently the Rotary Club of Eltham in the State of Victoria initiated a parallel project. Their first boxes were sent to Nepal. In 2003 they were able to ship a container of boxes for use in Iraq.

A sister project has also been set up by the Rotary Club of Stratford in Canada

The Rotary Club in the Cayman Islands started a similar project with an initial delivery of 24 boxes. This is most commendable considering their tiny population. 

It is understood that a Rotary Club or District in Arizona, USA have commenced a similar project. 

The continuing need

There is a continuing need in many parts of the world for assistance in purifying water. For centuries raw surface and well water has been used, which is polluted from many causes, natural and otherwise. The life span of many in the world is short as a result of water-borne diseases. Aquaboxes have been found to provide the 'First Aid' in dealing with this problem and they have, in consequence, become increasingly welcomed in many parts of Africa and Asia. Conscious of this ongoing need Aquabox have taken the opportunity to use any income from invested funds to assist Water Aid in providing long term solutions by the provision of permanent bore-holes. No doubt, for many years to come, AQUABOX 'First Aid' will continue to be required for ongoing needs and, at the same time, continue to be ready to give immediate assistance in times of specific natural disasters. 

he AQUABOX GOLD is a special version of our Standard AQUABOX. It is packed by the Aquabox team and filled with new, specially purchased, humanitarian goods to meet the basic needs of the recipients of our Standard Aquaboxes ... and more. 

The box is filled to capacity bringing the weight up the maximum shipping weight of 25kg.

The AQUABOX GOLD humanitarian aid packing list exceeds our basic recommended "Standard Aquabox" packing list. It includes at least 60 items together with a second filter pack to extend it's water purification life for one family of four to well over six months. The Aquabox Gold does not include clothing.

Administered by the Rotary Club of Wirksworth, District 1220 UK

AQUABOX 'The Gift of Life'