The Water Pyramid uses solar energy to desalinate water, providing drinking water during dry months
The Challenge
- Drinking water problems are acute in the remote desert regions of Rajasthan, where rainwater collected in village ponds last only a few months.
- Without a cost-effective, replicable way obtain drinking water during dry months, limited Government supplies and highly saline ground water constitute the primary sources of drinking water for residents for many months a year.
The Innovation
- AAWS has patented a technology – the “Water Pyramid” – that uses a huge dome-shaped, transparent plastic structure to direct solar energy onto a thin layer of saline water. Evaporating water collects inside the dome and is stored in a tank.
- Each Water Pyramid produces enough to meet the needs of 500 individuals on a daily basis. The water is highly purified and potable, but does require the addition of minerals for regular human consumption.
The Impact
- This innovation has a substantial impact on health by increasing the consumption of water and greatly reducing the issues related with drinking salineated water.
- The durability and scalability of this solution have the potential to meet the needs of communities in remote areas in India and in many other countries. By reducing time and economic resources spent to obtain water from long distances, this technology could make a significant, long-term impact in many rural communities suffering from water scarcity.