Published by XPrize Manager
Dear all, help us define the next Water XPRIZE, engage on different questions raise here in the discussion forum. What, in your opinion could be the greatest game changer to solve the water crisis?
I believe it is telportation of one hydrogen atom. With this, we could radically change the availability and the supply of water in the planet, where ever it is. This will be, in my opinion, The game changer
Published by Pedro Vieira e Moreira, IT and innovation Director
Designing a simple water treatment facility for household level out of plastic work mostly that uses chlorine solution and activated carbon (this in cartage, in which only the activated carbon would be changed using the same cartage); the filter would be patented and given to social entrepreneurs for its local manufacture and distribution to reach the target group – with funding support where necessary.
Similarly the chlorine solution and activated carbon would be made available locally to the users of the filter (which should not cost much as this would also be produced in bulk and marketed socially) which the users would purchase (most of the users would purchase with some subsidy from the government for those who may wish to purchase but may not be able to).
In areas where the water would be turbid as well, the turbidity would be removed by the users either using a simple filter such as sand or ceramic (the ceramic filter here will not be required to be changed every six months) or with alum followed by screening. This would be backed up by effective marketing/promotion and a advocacy component – following sound research.
This is for areas where the bacteriological quality of water is not yet ensured besides having the access to water (this include shallow tube wells – which would in most cases be free of turbidity), and for the period before a safe communal system would take over.
Published by Laxman Kharal, S-Asia Regional WASH Adviser at Terre des hommes
Water can also be an important renewable energy source, therefore conversion of waste water into electrical energy using microbial fuel cells is Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) is a new technology that not only generates energy but treats waste water as well.
Published by shahida shaheen
the solution is simple, it only takes will and financiazión, my method of atmospheric water (Hidromach Dolo) is a simple concept, which provides not only the solution to provide clean water, but the change of status of territories, since no we can prevent deforestation, we will create forests in deserts, right now I'm working with a plant with capacity of 500m3 / hour, this is a lot of water and its cost price is 0,70e to 2,76e m3, and I'm working loss plus the cost, 0% CO2 emissions, we do not use chemicals to disinfect water products without any type of waste, and fed with renewable energy, the next generation I'm working on the plant itself energy is self-generated with hydrogen from its own production, I spent years trying to introduce this in the market, and I produce my own water, but we are still anchored in old technologies that are no longer valid for the future, I mean make water in a desert, and apply 30% of the water produced created agriculture or forests, get, down to room temperature, creating moisture in the air, and purified by photosynthesis CO2 or air pollutants, that is the way you have to win the battle against deforestation to fight climate change, besides get stabilize the mismatch phenomena extreme weather, raining wherever necessary, this is not a utopia this is what can be done and I am able to do, so the solution is, as Always thought you just need someone to have the will to do so unapologetic.
By the way, it is amortized over 5 years, so it's also good business profitable and self-financing. There are more solutions, but this is one that will be essential in the future, the sooner we start the better. www.dologroup.com
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Published by Xavier Doló Masnou, President, R+D Chief, and Docto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhO56NaBDBQ
Published by Xavier Doló Masnou, President, R+D Chief, and Docto
Apart from being a natural resource that should be available to everyone easily, water is a commodity and has a price attached to it whether treated or in nature. There should be cost attached to it in similar way as it is done for power. Cost of the power is same for everyone without regard to what class or socio economic level one belongs to. It is renewable but finite when considered in terms of its annual availability.
Published by PRADEEP SHRIVASTAVA, PROFESSOR AND CHAIRMAN ,LIMNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, BARKATULLAH UNIVERSITY, INDIA
CHEAP ELECTRICITY FROM NUCLEAR FUSION AND PARTLY FROM RENEWABLES WOULD CHANGE THE WHOLE WATER SECTOR. However, contrary to the common belief, cheap energy, plus realtively cheap desalinization will not be an universal salvation, although it will probably overshadow most problems and will return huge optimism for a while. Resources will still be limited in some places, humans will still drill unregistered wells everywhere they can, and as usual, a new technology will couse new kind of problems.
Analysing the water and environmental consequencies of a possible fusion energy breakthrough is my research inentive,. I hopt, that it can add a plus to the discussions of this group. It is definitely a much more optimist scenario than the more accepted Malthusian future of overcrowded and resource-limited Earth. Considering the long lifespan of most water investments, this "high gain but low probablity tech game scenario" also worth to be noted in a global long-term view.
Published by Arpad Lorberer, Geoscientist
Simplest way to save water in the world with no cost is as follows:
Problem Statement:
Even today – A water tap is a poorly designed product.
Generally, water taps are flowing with high volume of water than required.
If Water Tap turned to max speed then
If Water Volume in one minute is greater than 6 liters then
Water tap has a defect.
Solution is attached.
Refer full post at https://yourwellwisherprogram.wordpress.com/2016/06/24/simplest-way-to-save-water-in-the-world/
Published by NEERAJ KAPOOR, Your Well Wisher Program - Founder
Hi Neeraj, I actualy used a water-saving toilet system in my first house about 15 years ago. The system use pressured air, plus some water for flushing (1/3 of normal toilets). It was small, plastic, easy to attach to the wall, and was also cheap, a simple hungarian manufacturer produced it, I just bough it from the local store. It never become popular / known though, I wonder if anyone heard about it out of the country. It required a really simple maintenance in about every three month, just opening and closing a simple valve. However if you forget to do this, you have been frustrated by feeling that your WC suddenly does not work, I remember happening this with me. After I moved away, the new owner changed the flush to a traditional one. Based on my experience I am unfortunately sceptical about any system modification which require awerness and maintenance. Most people just don't care, especially in developed countries. Systems like yours and this, and several other small-scale water-saving methods needs active support in arid regions both by governments and NGO-s to have some temporary effect, but I unfortunately doubt that they can be global game changers.
Published by Arpad Lorberer, Geoscientist
Thanks Neeraj. I'm now planning to apply to this to the taps in my apartment this weekend
Published by Marielle Larson, DC Human Capital Analyst at Deloitte LLP
The greatest game changer in the future of human water use is aquaponics. Why?
1. It is a method of agriculture that only uses 2-3% of the water required in conventional field agriculture. This is an "of course": if you're after a major reduction in water use, and you effect even a small change in those water uses that use the MOST water (such as agriculture) it means a huge change in your net availability of water.
And we're not talking about a small change; we're talking about the possibility of doing agriculture with around 20% of the water currently required, and growing exactly the same volume of the same crops. When combined with drip irrigation (great Israeli technology from the '50's, right?), aquaponics also solves the problems of growing orchard and row crops outdoors; these can all be watered with aquaponics nutrient water and grow in about half the time as with either conventional or organic methods (see article here: Permaculture With Aquaponics ).
(Below) A banana grove grown using aquaponics nutrient water and drip irrigation, in about one-quarter the time as usual (it's only a year and a half old), with 400 pounds of bananas in bunches on the stalks. We've already harvested 600 pounds from this one grove when this photo was taken.
2. Aquaponics systems eradicate mosquitoes in the nearby areas. I don't mean "reduce", I don't mean "significantly effect the population", I mean eradicate ; as in dead and gone , as in there just aren't any more , with a big enough aquaponics system. Period. YouTube video detailing our discovery of this phenomenon in 2009 here: Mosquito Eradication . First time in the history of the world that we had a completely non-toxic mosquito eradication system that just incidentally produces food .
Where your group takes this is up to you; we've been doing aquaponics profitably for 9 years now; and teaching it to others. We're concerned, and available for discussions on our water future.
With Warm Aloha, Tim Mann and Susanne Friend, Friendly Aquaponics, Inc, in Hawaii
Published by Tim Mann, President and Owner at Island CAD Services, Inc
I gave you a link to a rather symilar company, focusing on modular hydroponic agriltural systems optimised for urban environments / megacities. http://www.biopolus.org/ Their social media sites are probably better than their homepage. They actually win a competetition and received a huge EU research fund in 2014. It is actually a good sign that different regions and companies work on the same ideas, this paralell technolgocal evoltions can led us to remarkable technolgical changes.
Published by Arpad Lorberer, Geoscientist
A community-driven approach. Let the stakeholders come up with their own ideas about how to solve their water crises by making water management fun and understandable. A SimCity for water, linked with real-world solutions.
The Dipsa Game (dipsa: Greek, thirst ).
Killing thirst one game at a time
Published by Andre Dozier, Colorado State University - Graduate Research Assistant (Ph.D.)
Advances in Controlled Environment Agriculture:
“The world needs educating on this subject. The key statistic is, once again, that 75% of the world’s use of fresh water is in farming.”
Willem H. Buiter, Global Chief Economist, CitiGroup, Global Themes Strategy, Thirsty Cities — Urbanization to Drive Water Demand, July 20, 2011
www.ChallengesInVerticalFarming.org
Published by Michael Hoadley, CCIM, Director of Real Estate at GlidePath Power
Atmospheric water generators could be a huge game change on a small or large scale. EcoloBlue has solutions for whatever volume of water you are looking to create. As of right now we are donating 250 home/office machine to the people of Flint to do our part to help them manage the water crisis they are experiencing. http://www.abc12.com/home/headlines/California-company-brings-water-generator-to-Flint-383208881.html#.V2JZwBPyyuM.mailto
Published by Heather Jepsen, Vice President of Operations at EcoloBlue, Inc
Due Diligence for the Low-cost Water Desalination
It is likely regretful for human being that although 75% the surface of the Planet Earth is covered by water, yet hundred millions or even billions people's concern is the lack of water issue. Hundred millions of the Middle East residents as well as North Africa Countries are experiencing tense times concerning water shortage. In my country Iran, we are passing through a threatening summer due shortage of the water resources. Besides; the available annual water of 1500 cubic meter per capita and the consumption of 70% of entire water sources, make the status even closer to critical stand point. Now the question being posed is first; why the human, who resides within water oceans, and should be taking advantage of the God’s gift is concerned about water shortage and water crisis. Second; what would be the short-term, mid-term, and long-term optimized solutions to access potable water?
I think now is the time to think very seriously for the LOW COST DESALINATION method(s) and technique(s).
Published by Mahmood Ghaheri, Niroo chlor Company Advisor
The greatest game changer is the economic model to address the 'tragedy of the [natural capital] commons. The logic of this model and the computational capacity is now available to the economy. Essentially, our sustainability objectives can only be met by engaging the economic transactions that not just counter, but replace the economic transactions leading to the tragedy of the commons. Elinor Ostrom identified several principles, but she did not have the capacities associated with applying them at the scale needed today. This model is described in detail in Shared Governance for Sustaining Working Landscapes http://bit.ly/1PMW2rA
Published by Tim Gieseke, Ag Resource Strategies, LLC - President
Thanks for links, the books on these page really seems interesting. However, hystorical exampes of new economic modells are not really encouraging, and I susupect one fator even a vital one like water scarity in not enough to drive such a change.
Published by Arpad Lorberer, Geoscientist
Acceptance of the link between lack of access to water, poverty and civil conflict which poses a threat to the world including the developed countries and affluent and politically influential segments of our society. Until this link is clearly acknowledged by society and our political leaders, steps to solve the water crisis is going to piecemeal and sometimes lacking in sincerity. We will take an issue seriously only if we feel that our way of life is being threatened and our comfort zone is no longer safe.
Published by Ashantha Goonetilleke, Professor, Water/Environmental Engineering at Queensland University of Technology
I disagee. Even if a society in an arid region is well educated about the imprtance of water, and the chance to total collapse if they misuse the water, they unlikly to change, especially if the population is growing. On the contrary, some prepare for immigration, some to conserve the remaining few natural resources for themselves, and everyone prepares for war and conflict in his/her mind. The eduated refuges arriving to Europe are all conscious about the problems of natural resources and overpopulation of their formal home, and hope that they will not need to face the same problems in Germany. The serious problems of water in Jemen were known back 35 years ago, they received U.N aides, there are published papers about the groundwater of their country, and nothing could prevent their civil war.
Published by Arpad Lorberer, Geoscientist
Hard and comparable data, at the utility, river basin and national level. Too many discources regarding water policy and polity are blurred by qualitative rather than quantitative views. David Lloyd Owen
Published by David Lloyd Owen, Envisager - Managing Director
I could not agree more.
Published by Alexandre Le Vernoy, Water & Food Resource at SABMiller
Education and continuous professional development. Countries need a steady throughput of talent coming into their water economy - not everyone will work in the sector, but enough will stay to make the sector work. Professionals need support and mentoring early in their careers and then have opportunities to provide mentoring later. ICT technology is opening up more and more possibilities for lifelong learning, career development and sharing of knowledge and experiences
Published by Sean Furey, Water & Sanitation Specialist at Skat Consulting
I believe it's data. Accurate, appropriate data is the foundation of decision making. And yet I remember my water bills from the past, and can't recount ANY water quality data, and sometimes not even any usage data. Mind blowing. How can I make an informed decision about my water without anything to base it on?
To me, there is no reason why a Flint, Michigan couldn't happen where I live in the East Bay. I would have no ability to see it coming or avoid it, other than running my own water quality experiments at home or controlling my own water source.
I have no place to go to get that accurate data even if I'm hunting for it, so what about the portion of the population who isn't paying any attention to it?
The data will set you free!
Published by Adam Pettler, Open Innovation Leader, Brita / Clorox
I agree and it seems that the data issue is being picked up throughout the comments/answers to the question so far. I wonder whether there is here a topic that could be further discussed as a dedicated work stream within this platform ?
Published by Alexandre Le Vernoy, Water & Food Resource at SABMiller
William Sarni data issue as a new vision discussion?
Published by Trudi Schifter, CEO and Founder AquaSPE