Solar Powered Water Purifier Systems
Solar powered water purifier systems started as an energy efficient way to clean swimming pools and have evolved into innovative systems that save lives in developing countries.
Solar Powered Water Purifier Systems
By harvesting the power of the sun, solar powered water purifier systems make pool maintenance more eco-friendly. Instead of draining electricity or gas, solar power utilizes sustainable, renewable energy. These purifiers come in the traditional stationary models as well as more modern floating versions. The floating models incorporate the groundbreaking ionization process
The ionization process safely controls all the microorganism growth in pool water. This reduces the need for the use of toxic chemicals and filtration systems. By decreasing these toxic chemicals, such as chlorine, the risk to the environment is also lessened. In addition, reports put out by Greenpeace have indicated that exposure to pool cleaning chemicals is increasingly thought to have a human cost in increased health concerns. These include neurological problems in children, breast cancer, deformities, and infertility. Ionization of the water also has a longer lasting effect, especially in the hot summer months when the efficacy of chlorine based systems decreases due to off gassing. These systems also require less maintenance and cleaning than traditional pool cleaning systems. Combining the technologies of ionization and solar powered water filtration can only have a positive impact on human health and the environment.
In addition to the pool cleaning application, solar powered water purifier systems are also being utilized in ways that are saving lives. Water born diseases have always been a problem in developing countries. That still remains the case today. It is estimated that around 40% of the populations of developing countries do not have access to potable water. But Indian scientists have adapted existing solar powered water filtration technology and created a drinking water purification system. This system is easy to use and requires little maintenance. If mass-produced, the system is affordable and can be placed in the remotest of locations. The only requirement is access to sunlight.
The solar powered water purifier system is a simple model. Water is kept in a plastic tray which has a tray made from steel on the bottom. In the drinking water application, the plate is coated in titanium dioxide, an affordable and easy-to-come by material. The titanium dioxide reacts with ultraviolet rays from the sun, killing the bacteria that are present in the water. As this system becomes more available, it is expected to save many lives.
