Bella Vista Interactors
(and a few Fair Oaks Rotarians)
Make WAPIs
That headline raises the obvious question, "What's a WAPI?" The quick answer is Water Pasteurization Indicator and, to avoid any further obvious questions, that's a little device that tells the user when water has been raised to the temperature that kills all the organisms that can make you sick from drinking it. That is a great help when dealing with questionable water, since it allows the water to be made potable without boiling it, saving fuel and time. In the developing world, this is a big deal and can save lives.
There were students from a half dozen or so Interact Clubs in the Sacramento area who gathered At Folsom High School for four hours on a Saturday, with Rotarians from several clubs supervising and doing quality control. Bella Vista Interactors found themselves assigned to an early step in the process, heating and crimping one end of the plastic tube... over a device that put out a 600 degree flame. Be careful!
Other school's Interactors prepared the wire, inserted the wax plug which is the actual indicator, and tested the final product for correct function and water leaks. The students cranked out 332 of these devices; they will be delivered to Rotary clubs in Peru and Ecuador next month for distribution. Do you think these kids had a good time while doing good? My guess is... for sure!