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ITT Corporation announced a strategic partnership with Mercy Corps as part of its corporate philanthropy program, ITT Watermark. The partnership includes a three-year, $1 million commitment to help provide safe water during emergencies created by natural catastrophes such as floods, droughts and earthquakes. ITT’s announcement was made from the Water Environment Federation’s annual conference in Chicago.

When natural disaster strikes, access to safe and portable water is often the most critical need. Through this new partnership, ITT, a global leader in the transport and treatment of water, will support Mercy Corps’ relief and recovery efforts, which include the provision of de-watering and water purification equipment. In addition, ITT will aid Mercy Corps’ on-the-ground staff with rebuilding and recovery of water and sanitation infrastructure long after disaster strikes. Mercy Corps, a global relief and development agency, collaborates with the United Nations to implement water and sanitation solutions during worldwide disasters.

As part of the ITT Watermark initiative, ITT has established an Emergency Response Committee responsible for the coordinated deployment of ITT resources directly to disaster sites during water-related emergencies. The committee will work with Mercy Corps during the balance of this year to develop a plan for reducing risks and implementing turn-key emergency response protocol.

This relationship with Mercy Corps is the second strategic partnership for ITT Watermark. The company previously partnered with Water For People, an international development organization, to provide safe water, sanitation and hygiene education to 300 schools in Asia and Latin America by 2010.

To further educate its stakeholders on ITT Watermark and the issues it is designed to address, ITT has organized a several-part discussion series featuring the company’s executives, non-profit partners and other industry experts.