For many people living in developed nations, towns and cities take care of ensuring that residents' water is clean and safe. Municipalities have advanced filters and UV light disinfection technologies at their disposal. Some households have additional filters as well. In many places in the Global South, however, these technologies are not widely available. These areas, such as parts of Africa and South America, do have one advantage when it comes to water filtration—sunlight.
Eric Ryberg, assistant professor of allied health sciences at the University of Connecticut College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) and his colleagues at Yale University have developed a new solar-powered water disinfection system that combines several existing methods. They recently published their findings in npj Clean Water.
The researchers developed a compact device that effectively utilizes a combination of techniques that all use solar energy. "Many hands make light work in drinking water disinfection," Ryberg says. "[It] really allows us to check a lot of boxes and provide water quality that allows people to feel dignified, no matter what resources they might have available to them."
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