solutions

Water Purification

Dean Kamen is an inventor, an entrepreneur and a tireless advocate for science and technology. His roles as inventor and advocate are intertwined -- his own passion for technology and its practical uses has driven his personal determination to spread the word about technology’s virtues and by so doing to change the culture of the United States. According to his website, “Ensuring access to clean water is one of the greatest challenges faced by under-developed countries. Existing approaches to water purification require expertise in system design, operation and maintenance. We set out to design a simple system that transforms any source water into safe drinking water.” Click here to learn more about Deka.

Cisterns

Source: http://www.cnn.com

Exploding populations from Phoenix, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada, to suburban Los Angeles have turned the issue of water supply from problem to crisis. "The way we use water is so wasteful and so inappropriate today, according to the California Water Plan, there is already so much demand for water, it already exceeds supply," says TreePeople founder Andy Lipkis. Part of the solution to the water crisis, he says, is collecting as much rainwater as possible because "it represents half or more of all the water we need in this big city." To read more about the solution, read the CNN report here, or visit treepeople.com for more details.

Wastewater Treatment

Source: http://www.livingmachines.com

The old days of centralized treatment plants, and buried wastewater tanks that produce lots of messy, smelly sludge, are over. The Living Machine® represents 21st century technology that treats wastewater to the highest quality. The Living Machine® creates cleansed water that is ready for reuse on site—for tasks such as irrigation and toilet flushing. Since up to 95% of water usage goes to applications like these, the Living Machine® can make a huge difference in water consumption. A zoo in the Netherlands saw their water bills reduced by 84% when they installed a Living Machine®. Visit the livingmachine.com site to learn how this technology works.

Xeriscape Design

Source: http://wateruseitwisely.com

Xeriscape, or dry-scape, is a set of principles for water-wise landscaping. It’s all about planning and maintaining your landscape and watering efficiently. This sensible approach allows you to conserve water while enjoying an attractive yard. Xeriscape is based on seven water-wise landscape principles. Whether you’re developing a new landscape, renovating an existing one, or just looking for ways to conserve water in an urban environment, proper planning and design are essential to creating a landscape that is water-wise. For details, click here...

Composting Toilets

Source: http://appropriateprojects.com

According to Wikipedia, “A composting toilet is an aerobic processing system that treats excreta, typically with no water or small volumes of flush water, via composting or managed aerobic decomposition. Composting toilets are often used as an alternative to central wastewater treatment plants (sewers) or septic systems.” Typically they are chosen (1) to alleviate the need for water to flush toilets, (2) to avoid discharging nutrients and/or potential pathogens into environmentally sensitive areas, or (3) to capture nutrients in human excreta. This story outlines how a community in Western Samoa is using this system to help the groundwater which is polluted from unsealed septic pits. To learn more, visit http://appropriateprojects.com.

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Water Conservation

Source: http://www.stableroad.org

Regardless of new technologies or innovations, the number one solution to saving water is to use less water. Whether through improved farming techniques, rainwater harvesting, different types of garden designs, or the ways we approach our daily activities, there are numerous ways that we can all make a difference by using less water than we currently do. As Benjamin Franklin said, “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.” It is up to us to ensure that the well doesn’t run dry. Click here to learn more about conserving water.

Rainwater Harvesting

Source: http://www.harvesth2o.com

Rainwater harvesting is the gathering, or accumulating and storing, of rainwater. Rainwater harvesting has been used to provide drinking water, water for livestock, water for irrigation or to refill aquifers in a process called groundwater recharge. Rainwater collected from the roofs of houses, tents and local institutions, or from specially prepared areas of ground, can make an important contribution to drinking water. In some cases, rainwater may be the only available, or economical, water source. To learn more, visit http://www.harvesth2o.com.

Lifestraw

Source: http://lifestraw.com

Half of the world's poor suffer from waterborne disease, and nearly 6,000 people - mainly children - die from diseases contracted from unsafe drinking water. LifeStraw® water purifiers have been developed as a practical way of preventing disease and saving lives, as well as achieving the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe water by the year 2015. LifeStraw® and LifeStraw® Family are complimentary point-of-use water filters - truly unique offerings from Vestergaard Frandsen that will help people obtain safe drinking water at home and outside - paving the way to accomplishing the MDGs. To learn more, visit http://lifestraw.com.

Water From Air

Source: http://www.elementfour.com

Per the manufacturer, “Element Four products generate and purify water - on and off the grid. Our solutions to the basic human need for fresh, clean water can be applied to domestic, commercial, recreational, agricultural, military and humanitarian purposes. Our technology can be used almost anywhere water is needed. The original WaterMill is designed for the residential user. It provides families with a clean, sustainable and cost-effective source of water for drinking and cooking. It produces 12 litres (13 US quarts) of water per day, and mounts to the exterior of your home, drawing water from the air outside into point-of-use systems inside. The WaterMill is self-regulating, maximizing water production, while minimizing energy consumption.” For details, click here...

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