Contact: Lindsay M. Wine, Water Missions International (WMI), 843-769-7395

CHARLESTON, South Carolina, May 20 /Christian Newswire/ -- Today, at approximately 12:30p.m. EST, Water Missions International (WMI) will deploy six water purification systems from its Charleston, SC facility to China's Sichuan province to aid survivors of the deadly earthquake that shook on May 12. The six systems, requested by Samaritan's Purse (SP), will be transported to Charlotte, NC and then airlifted to Chengdu, China on Friday, May 23. An additional six water systems, currently positioned in Bangkok, Thailand, will also be transported to China this week. WMI's International Project Director, Andre Mergenthaler, will travel from Bangkok to China to assist with installation and operation of the 12 systems. Each water system is assembled by volunteer labor, provides a continuous supply of approximately 10,000 gallons per day, and can be rapidly deployed and installed in only a few hours to purify available surface and shallow well water sources in disaster affected areas.

A deadly, 7.8-magnitude earthquake shook China's Sichuan province on Monday, May 12, affecting millions of people. To date, the quake and its aftershocks have claimed more than 34,000 lives and left nearly a quarter of a million people injured. The latest reports estimate that another 14,000 people could still be buried beneath the rubble. One week after the disaster, 4.8 million people are homeless and in desperate need of food, shelter, and clean, safe water.

About WMI:

Water Missions International (WMI) is a nonprofit, Christian engineering organization based in Charleston, SC. WMI's mission is to provide sustainable access to safe water and an opportunity to hear the "Living Water" message in developing countries and disaster areas. Assistance is provided regardless of age, sex, race, or faith. To date, WMI has deployed a total of 574 water systems in 35 countries worldwide and two U.S. states, making safe water available to more than one million people. Visit us at www.watermissions.org.

If you would like more information about Water Missions International, or to donate funds to disaster relief projects, please contact Danya Jordan at (843)769-7395 x 210 or djordan@watermissions.org. Donations are also accepted online at www.watermissions.org. For volunteer opportunities, contact Kelly Lewis at (843)769-7395 x 207 or volunteers@watermissions.org.