In 1984, Professor Aftim Accra from American University in Beirut (Lebanon) discovered that when contaminated water is exposed to the sun, the number of microbes in the water decreases (see publication). That was the beginning of the development of solar water disinfection, or SODIS.

In the 90's, the Swiss Federal Institute of Science and Aquatic Technology (Eawag), in collaboration with the Center for water and Environmental Sanitation (CASA) of the University of San Simón in Cochabamba, Bolivia, implemented projects demonstrating SODIS technology to increase local acceptance of SODIS.

The excellent acceptance rates of SODIS in both rural and urban populations combined with its use by several prestigious institutions led to the creation of the SODIS Foundation.  The Foundation was created in October of 2000 to expedite the spread of this vital health information.  Since then, thousands of families have begun to use SODIS in Latin America (as well as in many other areas of the world) with significant results. 

Currently in the 2007-2010 phase, we are working toward the goal of providing safe water for 1 million people in Latin America.