Solar Water Purification Project

Solar Water Purification Project

In 1995, EPSEA received funding through the State of Texas, State Energy Conservation Office (SECO), for a solar demonstration project. EPSEA's project demonstrated the feasibility of using solar energy to purify water. The target audience (end users) are the people who reside in colonias along the Texas/Mexico Border. A colonia is an unincorporated settlement, lacking a safe water supply and waste water treatment. EPSEA's work in solar water purification continued in colonias in Dona Ana County, New Mexico through a collaborative effort with the Southwest Technology Development Institute (SWTDI) at New Mexico State University. In 2000, EPSEA was able to install stills in Juarez, Mexico through a grant from "Border Pact". EPSEA has since received funding through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to continue it's work in solar water distillation.
EPSEA has presented papers and hosted workshops at the American Solar Energy Society's (ASES) national conferences and the Mexico National Solar Energy Conferences.
The problems faced by many colonia residents include contaminated water, as well as water with very high salt content. The sources of contamination include septic systems, industrial pollution, and run off of fertilizers and pesticides. These problems are seen on both sides of the border and like the resulting sickness and diseases, know no borders. These problems are not confined to only colonias, but it is the conditions that exist in colonias which allows for the proliferation of sickness and disease. The causes of these problems can be traced to pollution, poverty, ignorance and greed.
The Marcos family, Juarez, Mexico

Solar Solutions
EPSEA's demonstration project is only a small example of the potential role for solar energy in water treatment, and disease prevention. Solar distillation is a proven technology for water disinfection. Systems can be sized for one person, up to community sized systems. They have no moving parts, relying only on the sun for energy, and should last 20 years or more. Larger disinfecting systems which generate chlorine and other gases can be operated in remote locations, using solar energy. It is hoped that through the success of our local project, these technologies will be replicated in other regions currently facing similar conditions.

click to see full photo (77k)

The heart of EPSEA's project is a basin solar still. EPSEA's research resulted in a basin still, with emphasis on ease of replication and readily available materials. The still utilizes standard patio replacement glass (34"X76"), and during the summer months produces over 3 gallons/day. Winter production is about 1/2 that amount. The still has no moving parts, uses only solar energy to operate, and is self cleaning.
Project Update
The El Paso Solar Energy Association's (EPSEA) solar water distiller projects (under an EPA grant for TX & NM, and Borderpact/Conahec for Mexico are progressing successfully. Only two more stills need to ben installed in the colonia areas of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico to complete the Borderpact project. The EPA project is just beginning Phase II which includes public community meetings and further education via energy fairs, etc., and a hands-on stills construction workshop that will be taught by Mike Cormier at the Water Festival in Columbus, NM in March. Applications are already being accepted by EPSEA from potential still recipients in the Luna, Dona Ana, and El Paso Counties of southern NM and west TX.
A selection process will be used to decide who will receive a still. A cost-share amount of $50-$100 per still (small or large, respectively) will be paid by the recipients who are chosen. A sponsorship and payment plan program is available for individuals who cannot afford the cost-share amount. A recent fundraising breakfast was held at St. Pius Church by the St. Pius Colonia Ministry to aid in achieving funds for such sponsorships.
Border Pact Presentation - PDF Document (327k)
For more information about these projects contact us at 915-772-SOLR email: webmaster@epsea.org
Final UpdateHaving completed this project, we presented a final paper to the Solar World Summit for the International Solar Energy Society in Orlando, Florida in 2005.
OPERATION
Solar energy is allowed into the collector to heat the water. The water evaporates only to condense on the underside of the glass. When water evaporates, only the water vapor rises, leaving contaminants behind. The gentle slope of the glass directs the condensate to a collection trough, which in turn delivers the water to the collection bottle.
EPSEA Still Cutaway (39k)
The still is filled each day with twice as much water as was produced. The still is fitted with overflow outlets, which allows the excess water to flush the still every day. A major advantage of the basin still is that it does not require a pressurized water supply. Colonia residents often have their drinking water delivered by truck and it is then stored in 55 gallon drums. Still recipients report that the water tastes very good and their children now drink more water than before.

Construction Cost
EPSEA material costs, with bulk purchasing, are approximately $200 per still. The cost of materials to build a single still should be less than $300. Only basic tools are required.

Effect of Cleaning Supplies During Pregnancy

While most women are aware that they need to stay clear of harsh chemicals while pregnant, they overlook just how toxic their everyday cleaning supplies are to their health, their unborn baby and to say the least, so detrimental to the environment. A study in Britain in 2204 showed a link between exposure to household cleaners during pregnancy and asthma in children. Investigators found that those households that used the most chemical-based products during pregnancy were two times more likely to have children with asthma. These findings backed up a similar Australian study that was published in August of 2004.

Recent research has looked at a link between the use of everyday household cleaning products, including aerosols and air fresheners, during pregnancy, and persistent wheezing in pre-school children. The study concluded that pre-school children whose mothers used cleaning products most frequently during pregnancy were found to be more than twice as likely to wheeze persistently throughout early childhood. Additionally, a study of respiratory health showed a clear connection between children's breathing problems and their mothers' heavy use of common cleaning products in pregnancy. Greenpeace found that chemicals found in perfumes and cleaning products can cross the placenta.

The research and clinical trials on the use of household cleaning products and the effect it has on your health and the environment are to numerous to be ignored. The National Institute of Health as a wonderful site where you can just type in a name of a product and read the safety and toxicity information on each product. There link is http://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm and it holds a wealth of information. Furthermore the site will provide information on skin care products. Research in the cosmetics field has also shown that the chemicals used in a lot of skin care products are toxic too.

Chemicals to steer clear of in the home include: triclosan, an anti-bacterial agent found in cleaning products, disinfectant hand wash and toothpaste (which has a possible link with liver damage); alkypheonols, found in detergents (which are linked to sperm damage), and artificial musk found in perfumes (linked to cancer).

You should also avoid Latex paints; used indoors they can also be toxic as they release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air that you breathe. If you've already painted a room, stay out of it as much as you can and keep windows open until the smell fades.

Avoid all pesticides if possible. Additionally, bug sprays that contain DEET have not been properly evaluated for safety during pregnancy and therefore should be used with caution. Instead of applying the bug repellant directly onto your skin where it can be absorbed, apply it to your clothing instead. Use gloves or an applicator so the spray doesn't get on to your hands.

Other products to avoid are: Bleach, Window cleaners, Carpet cleaners, Disinfectants, Dry cleaning fluids, Aerosols, Air Fresheners, and Paint Stripper.

Although there is not much you can do about the toxins in the outdoor environment, you can take steps to rid your home of toxic products. Not only are most common cleaning supplies harmful to your health they are just a detrimental to our environment.

While you should not hide in your home while pregnant, a common sense approach is needed when doing your usual household cleaning. Your skin is the largest organ in your body. It serves a two way function, one is to eliminate toxins through the skin via perspiration and it also absorbs toxins through the hair follicles and sebaceous glands. If you put a chemical on your skin, it will be absorbed into the blood stream.

I was taught that clean has a smell, such as Lysol, bleach or Mr. Clean however, I know better now. The harmful fumes from so many cleaning products linger in the air and can actually cause illness and/or respiratory problems especially in children. In view of the harmful effects of common cleaning products on our health and the environment, it behooves me that these toxic chemical based cleaners still crowd the shelves of supermarkets and drugstores.