The turning point suddenly came in December 2004. Dr. Oda received an unexpected call from Thailand after a huge tidal wave had hit its southern region. The government wanted to try his powder to supply the victims with clean water, which led him to Thailand soon afterward. There, his powder helped to create precious, clean water. This successful result attracted global attention to the powder. It was then used in Mexico and Bangladesh. It is currently being used to purify dirty water in about 80 countries in need of drinking water. People are often amazed and shout, "It's a magic powder" when they see brown and cloudy water become clear just before their eyes.