Contact: Lindsay M. Wine, Water Missions International (WMI), 843-442-4401

CHARLESTON, South Carolina, May 30 /Christian Newswire/ -- Water Missions International (WMI) deployed six water purification systems to earthquake-ravaged China late Wednesday, May 28. The systems were airlifted by FedEx at no cost to WMI and are expected to reach Shanghai tomorrow. Upon arrival in Shanghai, the systems will be transported into Chengdu to the areas of greatest need. WMI's International Project Director, Andre Mergenthaler, has been on the ground in China leading a water resource team of engineers and technicians through installation and operation of systems previously deployed for this disaster relief effort. Since the disaster struck, WMI, in cooperation with Samaritan's Purse, has deployed a total of 12 water systems to China. Six of those systems are now set up and operational in Luoshi, Yinghua, Lungji, and Mianzhu, towns with a total population of 29,000 people. 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, 8.0-magnitude earthquake shook China's Sichuan province on Monday, May 12, affecting 45 million people. To date, the quake and its aftershocks have claimed more than 66,000 lives and left more than a quarter of a million people injured. Weeks after the disaster, millions of people are still homeless and in desperate need of food, shelter, and clean, safe water.

"We are entering into a new disaster season," says Danya Jordan, WMI's VP of Development. "As a ministry, WMI steps out in faith when responding to these terrifying situations. Funding is currently, and will continue to be, one of our most urgent needs," Jordan explains. "Please consider supporting WMI in our efforts to provide safe, clean water to people around the world." For more information on how to help, please contact Danya Jordan at (843)769-7395 or djordan@watermissions.org. Donations are also accepted online at www.watermissions.org.

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 591 water systems in 36 countries worldwide and two U.S. states, making safe water available to more than one million people. Visit us at www.watermissions.org.