Merck KGaA and its Life Science division Merck Millipore have sent thousands of state-of-the-art water test kits to Thailand in an effort to ensure the safety of municipal drinking water following months of devastating flooding in that region. In addition to the product shipment, the company has donated €110,000 to assist flood victims.
"Safe drinking water is a basic human right," said Robert Yates, Head of Merck Millipore. "When it became apparent that public drinking water might be impacted by the floods, we did not hesitate to send our test kits. It is our collective hope that in some small way Merck can help the people of Thailand recover from these devastating floods."
The Merck Millipore division has shipped more than 10,000 test kit elements that will be distributed to various Thai organizations, including the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), a member of National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA); the Ministry of Science and Technology; and the Samsen office of the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority. The test kits will be used to detect any evidence of contamination in the drinking water.
"The floods have carried dirt and potential contaminants into the raw water system, creating public concern about the safety of the water," said Klaus Bischoff, Head of Merck Millipore's Lab Solutions business unit. “The high-quality water analysis products we have donated will help the local authorities monitor the water quality and bring peace of mind to the community.”
In addition to the product donation, Merck has donated €110,000 to assist flood victims in the region. The donation is earmarked for flood evacuation efforts, as well as to provide temporary housing and filtered water to impacted employees and the general public in the hardest hit areas of Thailand.
About Merck KGaA
Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with total revenues of € 9.3 billion in 2010, a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped by more than 40,000 employees in 67 countries. Its success is characterized by innovations from entrepreneurial employees. Merck's operating activities come under the umbrella of Merck KGaA, in which the Merck family holds an approximately 70% interest and shareholders own the remaining approximately 30%. In 1917 the U.S. subsidiary Merck & Co. was expropriated and has been an independent company ever since.