WaTER Center

Welcome to the WaTER Center at the University of Oklahoma.
MISSION: To help solve drinking water and sanitation challenges for impoverished regions in developing countries through innovative teaching and research initiatives.

Approximately one SIXTH of the world's population lacks access to safe water
2.6 billion people lack access to improved sanitation
Every 15 seconds a child dies from a water-related disease
88 percent of all diseases are caused by unsafe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene
The average American individual uses 100 to 176 gallons of water at home each day while the average African family uses about 5 gallons per day.

This website offers you the opportunity to learn about upcoming WaTER events, local and international WaTER initiatives and how you can contribute to solving the world water crisis.

Dr. Steve Luby wins the First International WaTER Prize
at the University of Oklahoma
Click here to view a press release about this award.

Governor's Proclamation

Governor Brad Henry has proclaimed October 2009 “OU International Water Awareness Month” to call attention to the work being performed by the University of Oklahoma, the OU College of Engineering and the OU WaTER Center to improve water quality and sanitation in developing countries. Click here to view the proclamation.

OU International Water Prize

On October 31, 2008 Dr. Stephen Luby was announced as the first OU International Water Prize winner. The announcement was made at the WaTER Symposium held at the University of Oklahoma with distinguished speakers Dr. Greg Allgood, Dr. Michael Campana, Henock Gezahegn, Daniele Lantagne and Malcolm Morris. To learn more about the symposium visit the Symposium page and for more information on Dr. Luby visit the Prize page. Dr. Luby will receive the prize and give the plenary lecture at the OU International WaTER Conference to be held October 26 - 27, 2009.

WaTER Center is Represented at International Conference

The WaTER Center recently sent representatives to the World Engineering Development Centre's 34th International Conference - Water, Sanitation and Hygiene: Sustainable Development and Multisectoral Approaches. Professor David Sabatini and graduate student Laura Brunson attended the conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and presented some of the research being conducted as part of the WaTER Center. The conference was attended by representatives from over 60 countries, and attendees were given many opportunities to network and learn from each other. When asked about the conference Dr. Sabatini remarked, "It was exciting to learn from and interact with experts from around the world, and also to share with these experts the great work of the OU WaTER Center." While visiting Ethiopia the WaTER Center representatives also took time to visit some villages with troubling fluoride issues in the rift valley. Below is a picture of a rural village well in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia.

Picture of Well in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia

WaTER Center in the Press

WaTER Symposium Featured in Norman Transcript

To view this article from 11/1/08 click Here.

Water Prize Winner Announced Norman Transcript

To view this article from 11/1/08 click Here.

WaTER Center Featured in Sooner Magazine

To view this article from Summer 2008 click Here.

WaTER Center speakers Featured in the Norman Transcript

WaTER center speakers are featured. To view the article featuring Dr. Kleine and Freda Margiloff click Here. To view Dr. Sampson's article on 9/8/08 Click here.

Picture of Boy Fetching Water in Tanzania

Picture of a River in Cambodia used for Drinking water

WaTER Center Students Travel Abroad

WaTER Center graduate students travel to Cambodia and Tanzania to learn more about the water problems facing rural regions of the countries. To learn more about their experiences and related research click here.