Company announces a $25,000 donation to Water Quality Research
Foundation to Support Education and Access to Safer Drinking
Water
EL PASO,
Texas, Oct. 22,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA) recently-revised Lead and Copper Rule Revision
(LCRR), local municipalities must inform residents if the
resident's household water supply is delivered via a lead service
line and if their tap water is at risk for lead contamination.
Lead, a toxic metal that is neither visible nor detectable by taste
or smell, can pose severe health risks.
As the #1 selling brand in lead filtration1 and a
Helen of Troy brand, PUR® is launching an initiative to educate and
help consumers access cleaner drinking water. PUR is proud to
announce a $25,000 donation to the
Water Quality Research Foundation (WQRF) a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization, to support education and access to water testing kits
for schools in need nationwide.
With over 12 million lead pipes corroding and potentially
releasing lead into the water supply line, millions of Americans
may be at risk of exposure. PUR believes that cleaner drinking
water should be accessible to everyone, and is dedicated to raising
awareness and providing education and resources about lead
exposure. To date, the brand has distributed more than half a
million water filtration systems and replacement filters in
communities across the U.S. and Canada such as Flint, MI and Newark, NJ.
A recent study2 conducted by PUR, reveals the lack of
awareness about lead contamination, the misinformation amongst
consumers, and the need for education and action:
- 7 in 10 U.S. adults currently believe the tap water in their
home is safe to drink; yet the majority (69%) never test the water
in their home for lead.
- Less than one-fifth consider lead contamination in drinking
water in U.S. homes (19%) to be a 'large' problem.
- Many misunderstand the effectiveness of home water filtration
systems with less than half believing most home water filtration
systems can effectively reduce lead in tap water (45%).
- 62% of Americans believe boiling water will reduce the risk of
all contaminants including lead, yet boiling water may increase
lead levels.
- Only 21% of Americans believe that lead contamination in
drinking water at schools is a large problem.
Given that young children are particularly vulnerable to lead
exposure and may absorb up to 4-5 times as much lead as
adults3, PUR is committed to helping schools find
solutions for lead contaminated water. PUR's donation to WQRF is
intended to help provide resources about lead in water and
facilitate access to water testing kits for schools across the U.S.
Schools may visit this website to apply for free water testing
kits.
"We're honored to partner with PUR during this time when many
families are notified about potential exposure to lead contaminated
water," said Pauli Undesser, WQRF Chief Executive Officer. "As an
organization, our goal is to empower everyone – from parents to
teachers to children – with knowledge and tools to protect
themselves from serious water quality issues such as lead
exposure."
Additionally, PUR intends to donate up to 10,000 water
filtration faucet mounts and pitchers to impacted schools.
"Lead exposure poses serious health risks, particularly for
children and pregnant women. It's crucial for individuals to
understand these dangers and take proactive steps to protect their
families," said Leah Werner, MD,
MPH, FAAFP, family medicine doctor, assistant professor at the
Oregon Health and Science University, public health advocate, and
mother. "Utilizing effective filtration systems can significantly
reduce lead levels in drinking water, ensuring safer, cleaner water
for households and schools everywhere."
While municipalities work to replace lead service lines over the
next 10 years as mandated in the new regulations, PUR intends to
help families take immediate action to improve their drinking
water. There are educational resources available at
www.PUR.com/LivingWithLead and lead-reducing PUR PLUS at-home
filtration systems offering safer and more reliable household
drinking water for purchase.
"We've reformulated the PUR PLUS lead-reducing filters to help
meet the real-world challenges of lead contamination. Our team was
on the ground in Flint, MI, and
Newark, NJ, gaining insights in
lead crisis environments," said Mike
Mitchell, Director of Advanced Technology Home and Health
Care at Helen of Troy. "This advanced filtration technology
effectively reduces lead, making your drinking water safer.
With PUR PLUS, you can take an important step towards helping
protect your family from lead exposure."
1Based on Nielsen sales data for lead-reducing
filters for the 52 weeks ending 8/24/2024.
2All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from
YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1,332 adults ages 18+. Fieldwork
was undertaken between 9th - 10th October
2024. The survey was carried out online. The figures have
been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged
18+).
3 World Health Organization: WHO. (2024, September 27). Lead poisoning.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lead-poisoning-and-health
About PUR
PUR is dedicated to providing superior filtration products that
improve drinking water quality. With over 30 years of experience,
PUR is the #1 selling brand in lead filtration1,
offering products certified to reduce chemical and physical
substances from drinking water. PUR is committed to bring awareness
to consumers about water quality issues and offer solutions that
make a difference in their lives. Be sure it's PUR PLUS. To learn
more information about PUR, visit www.PUR.com or join the
conversation on social media @PUR.Water. You can find PUR products
available at major retailers including Walmart, Target, Amazon,
Home Depot and more.
About Helen of Troy Limited
Helen of Troy Limited (Nasdaq: HELE) is a leading global
consumer products company offering creative products and solutions
for its customers through a diversified portfolio of
well-recognized and widely trusted brands, including OXO, Hydro
Flask, Osprey, Vicks, Braun, Honeywell, PUR, Hot Tools, Drybar,
Curlsmith, and Revlon. All trademarks herein belong to Helen of
Troy Limited (or its subsidiaries) and/or are used under license
from their respective licensors. For more information about Helen
of Troy, please visit www.helenoftroy.com.
About Water Quality Research Foundation
The Water Quality Research Foundation (WQRF), organized as a
501(c)(3) non-profit foundation, aims to advance the knowledge and
science of high-quality, sustainable water through its sponsorship
of relevant education and professional research. Since its
inception, WQRF has funded numerous research studies which have
generated essential information on water quality for industry,
policymakers, regulators, and the general public. For more
information, please visit www.WQRF.org.
Media Contacts:
Salutem, A DJE Holding Company
Kaitlyn Kane
kaitlyn.kane@salutemcomms.com
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pur-helps-families-and-local-schools-respond-to-lead-water-contamination-concerns-amid-new-epa-regulations-302283034.html
SOURCE PUR®