Water is a universal necessity, but it‘s not available to everyone in the world. On top of scarcity, it’s not always clean or drinkable. These issues are the two main pillars of the global water crisis. Individuals and communities must use new technologies to properly combat this insecurity.
From purifying filters to solar power, new tech can provide clean water where it’s not widely accessible. The biggest task is to provide clean drinking water, but inaccessibility is a major concern.
In addition, the water crisis doesn’t only affect developing countries or regions. Flint, Michigan‘s, contaminated water crisis began in 2014, yet the effects are ongoing. There’s still a lot of distrust over the city’s water infrastructure and management. More recently, the February 2021 winter storm in Texas left millions without water and power.
These two instances show that water crises can be short or long term, yet will affect thousands or millions in the process. Thus, every form of water insecurity requires a technological solution. The latest innovations fall into two categories ” ones that provide clean water and ones that purify existing resources.
Providing Water
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), roughly 785 million people do not have access to drinking water. Whether it’s a lack of infrastructure or environmental conditions, these water insecure places need rapid assistance. The most helpful technology will provide enough water for the population regularly.
Fog catchers are one innovative solution. They can turn that vapor into water in locations where fog is dense. The nonprofit organization Dar Si Hmad integrated fog catchers at Mount Boutmezguida that now provide water for communities that need it.
Similarly, new solar-based technology works to condense water vapor into purely liquid form, just as the fog catchers do. These solar innovations are ideal for hotter locations or any area that receives direct sunlight.
New technologies can take this water harvesting a step further, though, and pull it out of thin air. The WaterSeer is a structure where blades pull air into a chamber that travels several feet below the surface. There, it cools the air until the vapor condenses and can become usable water. This tool could produce 11 gallons of water per day with the right integration.
More water infrastructure is necessary to provide a permanent and steady solution. These systems must use smart technology and sensors to monitor pressure, flow, supply and demand, and purification levels. Then, every location can begin to get the water it needs.
Purifying Water
Providing water is sometimes half the battle. Some locations have access to water, but it’s not clean or safe to use. For instance, more than 62 million Americans have been exposed, in some way, to drinking water that failed to meet a government health regulation. Some locations may not have met any. In these instances, purifying tech is essential.
Desalination of saltwater has historically been a costly and tedious process. However, new tech is seeking to change that. Graphene filters, which are typically used for purifying polluted water, could now be a solution for desalination as well. With more testing, this dynamic will be groundbreaking.
Other, simpler innovations can help, too. The LifeStraw claims to filter out the majority of bacteria, microplastics and parasites. It’s portable, and anyone can easily use it for drinking water. Similarly, the Drinkable Book acts as a scientific filter. Users can filter water through each page, which has tips about purification and sanitation.
There’s also a growing incentive to purify wastewater to conserve water and money. In the U.S., 216 trillion gallons of water go to waste every year. Infrastructure will be key for improvements, including a repurifying process that treats wastewater and makes it usable and even drinkable again.
A Collective Effort
Individually, these innovations can make a difference for people and entire communities. Collectively, they are a major power player in solving the global water crisis. With each tech system working together to provide clean, drinkable water ” while purifying wastewater in the process ” the world can create a more sustainable and accessible future.
