We managed to send shipments to both Yemen and Syria, as well as a further shipment to Nepal,” said Roger Cassidy, chair of trustees.

Paul Hubbard is Chairman of AVK UK: ‘AVK UK takes its CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) responsibilities very seriously. Before linking up with Aquabox, I met with their representatives and quizzed them on their financial stability and their plans for the future. I was impressed with their drive to double the number of filters and aid boxes they ship each year, and the way they partner with aid agencies in disaster areas to ensure the filters are deployed effectively. Water is fundamental to life and ensuring its safe and effective distribution across the UK is at the heart of what we do at AVK UK. I am confident that our AVK-Aquabox Ambassadors will help Aquabox meet its targets and improve its systems and processes. It’s a really worthwhile and inspiring charity.’ The ultra-filtration core filters down to 0.02 of a micron (a micron is one thousandth of a millimetre) – and that’s smaller than the smallest known water-borne disease pathogen, so nothing gets through.Working with the Gurkhas, Nepal Armed Police and Local Rotary clubs, aid boxes are able to be distributed to areas in need, however getting to these communities can prove challenging.

All our aid costs a significant amount to supply and distribute across the world and all our income is contingent upon the generosity of donors. I have the next biggest Staxx as well, the 15-litre, which lives in the boot of my car and is home to all my spares, such as gas, finger stall, a set of clean pants, toilet roll, batteries and leads. Earlier this year, Aquabox distributed 160 Aquaboxes to a refugee camp in Syria through their partner Hand in Hand for Aid (HiHAD).All of the Aqua luggage boxes in the range have the same external footprints and all are 400mm long by 300mm wide. This translates into internal measurements of 380mm x 280mm. The height of the box changes depending on its overall capacity. The 10l box is 110mm high, the 15l is 166mm, the 20l is 226mm, and the 30l is 310mm. Please add an additional 20mm onto the height of each box for the external measurements. John Griffith helped to set up a filter assembly operation at Aquabox’s Wirksworth depot, and teams of volunteers were recruited and trained to assemble and test the new filters. Over time the original design has been refined and improved – currently the teams are assembling the Mk3 version – and in 2016 the charity was honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a charity can receive. AVK UK is the leading provider of valves, fittings and associated support services to UK water companies. It is now leveraging the skills and expertise of its workforce to help Aquabox provide clean water to those impacted by natural disasters around the world.

During its first 10 years, Aquabox aid was sent to disaster zones across the world: Africa, the Caribbean, south America, south-east Asia and even North Korea.

Learn more about our commitment

Aquabox is an underground plastic module in which water is collected and stored. The aim of this system is to collect the rainwater temporarily and release it with a time delay into the sewage infrastructure, preventing flooding in urban areas. All of this has been funded almost entirely by donations, notably donations from Rotary clubs across the British Isles. There is no way of knowing how many lives have been saved by Aquabox’s intervention, but it must be a huge number.