Country: Canada
Organization: IET-Aquaresearch Ltd.
2) Sector of activity: Water and Sanitation
3) Description of your products or services: IET-Aquareseach Ltd. produces 100% biological products to treat wastewater and water pollution problems. Our products are a blend of naturally occuring bacteria that have been on our Earth for millions of years. What we do is simply brew and combine them into beneficial communities which are the placed in a dormant state before shipping. Our products are applied directly into septic systems and open pit toilets where they break down the waste products and convert them into water, carbon dioxide and biomass. They also control and reduce the causes of naxious and toxic odors.
We also have biological products that can be applied to waters which are polluted with algae and provide substantial reduction in the algae bloom.
4) Description of the operational model: We have produced these products under the brand name Bacta-Pur for more than twenty years. Our products are sold/delivered to organizations which then use them.
At this time one of the innovate ways in which we are working others is with a women's group based in Nigeria who are purchasing our products and then provide them to the women members of their organization. They have their members sell these products into the local communities. In doing this they are accomplishing multiple benefits--(1) they are providing jobs with the women who are selling these products now earning money--(2) by applying these products they are improving the water and sanitary conditions in their communities--(3) by using these products they are stopping the causes of toxic and naxious odors--(4) they are making a positive contribution to the environment.
We are in discussions with other groups in India for the possible implementation of this same model
5) Description of the financial model: We believe that the "best way" for low income people to be able to improve their economic condition is to become involved in productive and beneficial activities which are within their capabilities, needs and requirements.
At this time, the group with which we are working is able to purchase our products and arrange for their delivery. The actual cost is quite low and even with shipping and other handling costs, the cost to the end user is also affordable--especially when measured in terms of the total package of benefits which the end-users and the distribution channels obtain.
Client fees represent this approximate percentage of operational budget: 1%
6) Key operational partnership: At this time we have established relations with one woman's organization based in Nigeria. We are talking with groups whose goals are similar in India.
The major challenge is to be able to establish initial contacts and to provide sufficient information for the group/organization to be able to understand the opportunities presented with the use of these products and the services which can be accomplished.
7) Current outreach:
We are at the Scaling Up stage. As noted above, we are already working with one women's group based in Nigeria. We are in discussions with other similar type organizations in India. In addition, we are considering how to approach international aid and assistance organizations.
How many clients have benefited from your product/service in total? Over the last year? Unknown because we do not collect this information.
What percentage of your clients is below the poverty line ($2 per day)? 80% To our understanding based on the current program it appears
that at least 80% of the people involved in the direct
sales, use and application of our products are below this
level of daily income. The figure could be substantially
higher.
What is the order of magnitude of the potential demand for your products or services? Which
other low-income groups, countries or regions could benefit from it? Try to quantify (number
of clients, market size in currency):
The need for improved sanitation is global in scope and size.
Virtually every developing country has need for the products we produce and certainly all under-developed countries do.
In terms of size of total population we believe that more than 4 billion people would benefit directly by using our products.
In dollars, if we look at an annual use for a community of 100 people and we calculate the retail cost at $80 per year which would apply four liters of our product per year, then the potential gross income at the community level would be in excess of $2 billion USD.
The cost of product sold FOB based on this volume would be approximate $750 million USD.
The difference between these two includes the cost of shipping and inland transportation which should be no more than 10% of the gross sales potential.
The remainder is an indication of income opportunity for the poor.
8) Scale-up strategy:
How many low-income individuals do you plan to benefit in three years from now? How are you planning to scale up or replicate your solution? What are the major constraints to scale up?
The major constraints are reaching and providing sufficient information to qualified organizations to initiate and implement distribution, sales and use of our products.
We would like to be able to reach at least one million people with our products during the next three years.
Which specific areas - and why - in your field would benefit most from investment by corporations, foundations, and other investors:
The opportunity to provide benefits crosses and includes the following general categories from:
The poor Sanitation Environment Health Employment Communities Women Children Families And more
Investment by corporations, foundations and investors would allow a more rapid dissemination of these products which are so needed. In the process of accomplishing this, the benefits noted herein above would all grow in direct proporation to the use of these products.
9) The organization: How does the initiative fit with your overall organization's strategic goals and priorities? How did the initiative start?
The over all organizational goal of our company has always been to produce and provide products which can be utilized to address the issues of pollution, contamination, sanitation, and health at an affordable price.
This initiative which is explained in this posting was started in response to knowledge about the horrible sanitation and pollution conditions which exist in the world today. The identification of the initial cooperative efforts was the result of research and continuous efforts to find and establish relations with appropriate organizations.
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10) On the mosaic diagram, which of these factors is the primary focus of your work?
- Factor: Limited purchasing power of individual clients
- Principle: Leverage the power of communities as both consumers and producers
- Other: Water is the primary and key resource required to support all life. The degradation and pollution of our water supplies must be remedied. Sanitary conditions associated with water need to be improved at every level of society and this is even more urgent and important in developing and under-developing countries and regions. This is especially important in the rural areas of these regions.
Contact Information:
Name: Brian Lewis - Marketing
Organization: IET-Aquaresearch Ltd.
Mailing address: 27 Road 143, North Hatley, OC J0B 2C3
Country: Canada
Email: bl@bactapur.com
Tel: 819-842-2494
Fax: 819-842-2414
Website: www.bactapur.com
Organization's legal status: Corporation
Number of Employees: 12
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