A MARKS Tey company is leading the charge to bring clean water to parts of South America.

Lifesaver Systems has announced a $47m project to provide clean water to two million people in the Caribbean and Pacific Coastal regions of Colombia.

The firm, which invents and supplies water purification technology which requires no power, chemicals or UV light, has teamed up with Columbian charity Fundacion Pais.

Michael Pritchard, founder of Lifesaver Systems signed the deal on Monday.

The signing was witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who is in Columbia leading a UK business delegation.

He said: “As their second biggest contract, it’s an important contribution to this small and entrepreneurial UK business.

“It will help boost their sales which are on track to increase by 40 per cent this year, and expand to more than 100 countries.”