Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton said he loved seeing a project between the tribe and ELW Global showcased Wednesday at Lake Talawanda in McAlester come to fruition.
“I love it when we start making projects like this,” Batton said. “Choctaw made. American made. That is what we’re trying to do here.”
Choctaw Defense Manufacturing on Wednesday demonstrated how its recently manufactured Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Units can convert water from any source, like Lake Talawanda, and turn it into clean, safe drinking water.
The unit can be easily moved to different locations to help communities in need. The system purifies water to standards set by the World Health Organization and can filter up to 630 gallons of water per hour. Along with the benefit of military use, the systems are designed for domestic use to help during disaster response and emergency relief efforts.
Two units will be shipped Friday to the U.S. Misawa Air Base in Japan to filter surface and underground water stores for purification purposes.
“We’re excited to see the RWOPU systems we built to create better living conditions for people around the world,” said Janie Dillard, CEO of Choctaw Global. “There are so many places around the world, including Native American tribes in the U.S., that do not have access to clean, safe drinking and cooking water. This system can make a difference in how those individuals live and improve their lives dramatically.”