University at Buffalo: Producing clean water for poor communities

University at Buffalo: Producing clean water for poor communities

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University at Buffalo: Producing clean water for poor communities

description

An efficient and affordable technology for purifying water. 

The Problem

Many poor communities in the world do not have access to clean water because of pollution and/or the shortage of water cleaning devices. Solar stills -- which use the heat of the sun to vaporize, cool, and then collect the purified water -- can be used to solve this problem. However, the solar stills that now are commercially available are either too expensive or inefficient for these communities.

The Solution

Researchers at the University of Buffalo have built a smaller iteration of the solar still. Their technology is capable of producing 3 to 10 liters of water per day, which is better than most commercial solar stills of similar size that produce 1 to 5 liters per day. Materials for the new solar still cost roughly $1.60 per square meter, significantly cheaper than the alternatives.

Stage of Development

Prototype

Organization to Receive Funds

University at Buffalo

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