Many small communities across the developing world lack the basic amenities people in the United States have come to take for granted, such as a reliable source of drinking water. But researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) may have found a viable solution, through the use of a solar-powered water purifier. Financing for the solar power research came in part from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
The Community
The new technology has been implemented in the remote village of La Mancalona, in the Yucatán peninsula, Mexico. La Mancalona is home to around 450 residents, many of whom are subsistence farmers. Before the solar water purifier was introduced, water was difficult and expensive to acquire—residents would have to drive an hour to the nearest facility—so residents would drink soda instead, which was cheaper and more readily available. Thanks to the new water purifier, the price of water has dropped by 90 percent.
The Technology
The solar-powered water purification system runs using only two solar panels. The panels convert sunlight into electricity, which then power a set of pumps to push water through a filter. Through reverse osmosis, both rainwater and briny well water can be purified for safe drinking purposes. The setup is capable of producing about 1,000 liters of purified water a day.
A Thriving Business Model
The system operates as a municipal business, with residents paying five pesos per 20-liter bottle of water. This creates a profit of 49,000 pesos a year, with portions set aside for financing maintenance and repairs and the rest reinvested into the community. Residents have embraced the technology, learning how to test water quality, change filters and replace batteries on a day-to-day basis.
With community residents paying a price they can afford for water, the system is self-sustainable—financing itself--said MIT researchers. After the success in La Mancalona, the researchers plan to implement the technology in other communities in developing countries, from small villages to larger metropolitan areas. Through comprehensive clean water initiatives, health conditions can be improved around the world.
Natalie Benoy is a renewable energy writer reporter for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Elements Capital Group. Follow on Twitter
The Community
The new technology has been implemented in the remote village of La Mancalona, in the Yucatán peninsula, Mexico. La Mancalona is home to around 450 residents, many of whom are subsistence farmers. Before the solar water purifier was introduced, water was difficult and expensive to acquire—residents would have to drive an hour to the nearest facility—so residents would drink soda instead, which was cheaper and more readily available. Thanks to the new water purifier, the price of water has dropped by 90 percent.
The Technology
The solar-powered water purification system runs using only two solar panels. The panels convert sunlight into electricity, which then power a set of pumps to push water through a filter. Through reverse osmosis, both rainwater and briny well water can be purified for safe drinking purposes. The setup is capable of producing about 1,000 liters of purified water a day.
A Thriving Business Model
The system operates as a municipal business, with residents paying five pesos per 20-liter bottle of water. This creates a profit of 49,000 pesos a year, with portions set aside for financing maintenance and repairs and the rest reinvested into the community. Residents have embraced the technology, learning how to test water quality, change filters and replace batteries on a day-to-day basis.
With community residents paying a price they can afford for water, the system is self-sustainable—financing itself--said MIT researchers. After the success in La Mancalona, the researchers plan to implement the technology in other communities in developing countries, from small villages to larger metropolitan areas. Through comprehensive clean water initiatives, health conditions can be improved around the world.
Natalie Benoy is a renewable energy writer reporter for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Elements Capital Group. Follow on Twitter