A recent project facilitated by Professor Wayne Padgett, an electrical engineering professor at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, has the possibility of fixing a major world issue. This issue involves 800 million people and their lack of access to clean water. As Padgett addresses, nearly 72% of illnesses related to clean water are due to bacteria in the water. The project he facilitated involved the research and development of biosand filters and an exploration of improvements and their effectiveness in an environment that is off the grid.
The Biosand Filter’s Process
Located near a water source, the filters begin to work via a solar panel that drives the pump located in the water source. This pump pushes water into a fill tank which slowly drips through a sand filter and into various storage tanks. The sand not only removes particles but also contains a bacterial layer that grows on the top of the sand. This bacteria eats the harmful bacteria in the water that causes sickness. Additional chlorination can be added to this process if needed.
The Effect of the Filter
In poor or developing areas of the world, sometimes surface water sources such as ponds are their only access to water. Many of these sources are contaminated with mammal waste that is not safe. As this filter can be operated without power, it is a solution to their clean water issue and can be provided at a relatively low cost.