Off Topic/Miscellaneous Subjects - Discussion

elyn wrote:Jlccaz, I interpreted that differently. They count each well as producing 181,000 liters of water (1,000 liters per day for six months, not counting the water produced after that). Therefore, for every 181,000 liters of water they sell, they are pledged to fund one well. So if they sell more water than that in a year, they will build more wells.

I do remember reading recently on the PW blog that they want to fund 500 wells by 2015, which is far more than $8,000 per year (and I don't know why they would publicly make a plan like that unless they were planning on following through).

PW's latest blog:

Sometimes I am asked about the difference between People Water and other charitable organizations. People Water is not a charity nor is it a non-profit organization. We are a for-profit, cause-based business that is committed to alleviating the global water crisis. We subscribe to the concept of a double bottom line, which is the notion that beyond a company’s financial performance we should support businesses that create positive social outcomes.
At People Water, we measure success in two ways. First, as with any good business, we look to increase sales, improve margins, and generate a return for our shareholders. Second, we also measure our success based on the amount of clean water we make available. These two goals are inextricably connected. If we are successful with our first goal, we will be successful with the second. At People Water, we call this phenomenon “sustainability.” We are sincere in our desire to make a difference, and for this reason the first thing you see when you visit our office is the phrase - We are not asking you to change anything except the world. Also, while we could support a number of worthy causes, we have chosen clean water because it is a basic human need.
Rather than focusing on the amount of money we contribute to our cause, we measure our success based on how much clean water we actually make available. After all, to a person in need, it’s all about the water. An average well delivers approximately 1,000 liters of clean water a day. Based on this estimate, we meet our Drop 4 Drop commitment for that particular well after 6 months. We then look to either drill a new well, repair a well, or establish a purification system at another location. Thus, our Drop 4 Drop initiative is concerned with developing (or restoring) new sources of clean water. After a source has produced water that meets our Drop 4 Drop commitment, we proactively look for a new project. We do not count a well’s residual water output in determining whether we meet our Drop 4 Drop commitment.
I would also like to point out that we are proactive. We try to build a well prior to selling the water that will be associated with that well. I hope this shows that our social cause is just as important as our bottom line.
We are in awe of the progress made by nonprofit organization such as Generosity Water. We wholeheartedly encourage you to support their efforts. Please visit our charity partners and donate directly to them. As for our efforts at People Water, we look forward to creating the best company possible. For, as I explained above, if we build a great company, we will make a difference in the lives of thousands.

Matthew Wride
Chief Operating Officer
People Water, Inc.

elyn wrote:Jlccaz, I interpreted that differently. They count each well as producing 181,000 liters of water (1,000 liters per day for six months, not counting the water produced after that). Therefore, for every 181,000 liters of water they sell, they are pledged to fund one well. So if they sell more water than that in a year, they will build more wells.

I do remember reading recently on the PW blog that they want to fund 500 wells by 2015, which is far more than $8,000 per year (and I don't know why they would publicly make a plan like that unless they were planning on following through).

dw_a_mom wrote:

elyn wrote:Jlccaz, I interpreted that differently. They count each well as producing 181,000 liters of water (1,000 liters per day for six months, not counting the water produced after that). Therefore, for every 181,000 liters of water they sell, they are pledged to fund one well. So if they sell more water than that in a year, they will build more wells.

I do remember reading recently on the PW blog that they want to fund 500 wells by 2015, which is far more than $8,000 per year (and I don't know why they would publicly make a plan like that unless they were planning on following through).

I don't have time to dig into the math myself today, but I think your approach here is the right one. I did not read anything that would make me back into only two wells and only $8,000 a year. It looks to me like they are using 6 months worth of expected output to calculate the drop for drop, which means if they sell more water, they will commit to more wells or other clean water projects. The wording isn't super clear, so I may go back and re-read it later, but I think that is what they intended to convey.

I do think its a shame that they won't put up the cents translation because I think they could, and while I understand what they are saying about being focused on the actual clean water, it makes one worry that they feel the number would be less than satisfactory to the critics. And maybe the real point is that people who don't like cause marketing will never like cause marketing, so there isn't really a winning formula no matter what they disclose.

Kashathediva wrote:
A charity was started as a memorial for my nephew who passed away on August 5, 2012 (yes, 8 days ago) and already my brother-in-law has been able to raise 10,000 dollars that will go toward an annual scholarship in my nephew's name for a needy high school senior with aspirations of college.

Chacharo wrote:

jlccaz wrote:An update -- per Generosity Water website so far People Water has donated $8000. That was presumably the April 2012 donation that Cody and PW itself discussed. https://mygenerositywater.dntly.com/peoplewater

True enough, it is not "nothing' and it is meaningful to people who get the well water.

But the premise of this company remains cynical to me at its core. They are launching Monte Holm "compound recruiting" ("join the movement", be an "ambassador", by buying and distributing People Water?? Ugh.)

There are many good hearted tweets from fans/members of the public a day asking how to sign up to volunteer, help the cause, "join" the movement, etc. All represent "foot soldiers" who could be meaningfully enlisted to help clean water causes directly and much more powerfully than pooling pennies to get to $8000 for one or two wells.

And they definitely spent more on that trip, with the film crew, than $8000. Though one must concede that such publicity does publicize the plight and a solution -- building and repairing sustainable water sources.

Wow, I followed your link and I get more confused. "Donate to People Water?" Interesting. And what is up with the $50,000 goal? It looks like they donated $8,008.

I do think they are intentionally misleading in their marketing. :greenman:

elyn wrote:

Daliana wrote:Where is anybody getting $8000 a year based on a donation of $8000 by PW in April 2012?

That's one charity and one donation...I don't see anything about $8000 a year.

I'm confused about that too. If this is the link people are referencing, that looks like info on a single fundraiser, not a list of everything PW has donated. It appears that at one point, PW was conducting a fundraiser where it was asking people to donate directly to Generosity, and this was the page where one would go to do that, and that amount was the amount raised through that fundraiser. It says nothing about what PW donates annually from their sales.