Good Thinking

ROSI solar-powered, mobile water filtration system tested in Tanzania

ROSI solar-powered, mobile water filtration system tested in Tanzania
ROSI is a new water filtration system that is both mobile and can be solar- or wind-powered
ROSI is a new water filtration system that is both mobile and can be solar- or wind-powered
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ROSI is a new water filtration system that is both mobile and can be solar- or wind-powered
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ROSI is a new water filtration system that is both mobile and can be solar- or wind-powered

Water-borne bacteria and viruses can cause serious health problems, but many places in Africa do not have access to clean drinking water. Mdori, in Tanzania, is one of those places. In addition, its natural spring water is too high in salt and fluoride. The new ROSI water filtration system could change this.

Due to high temperatures and a dry climate outside of the rainy season, water in Mdori is scarce. According to the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), from where tests of the system are being run, a well in Mdori from which natural spring water can be extracted produces water that is both very high in salt content and has a fluoride content of 60 µg of per liter. This is 40 times the level that the World Health Organization (WHO) deems safe for human consumption.

In order to find a solution to this problem, Professors Andrea Schäfer and Bryce Richards developed ROSI (the Reverse Osmosis Solar Installation) and have been testing it in Mdori. ROSI is able to filter out undesirable substances, bacteria and viruses from water, as well as reduce fluoride levels to within WHO recommendations.

In order to do so, the system "combines ultrafiltration membranes of about 50 nm in pore size to retain macromolecular substances, particles, bacteria, and viruses with membranes for nanofiltration and reverse osmosis with pore sizes below 1 nm to remove dissolved molecules from the water."

ROSI is designed to be robust, mobile and to be operated with solar and/or wind power. If there is too little power available, for example at night time or due to cloud cover, filtration cannot be carried out. This was one area that Schäfer and Richards were looking at in their tests.

"If less power is available, pressure decreases. As a result, less water passes the membranes. The fluoride concentration increases for a short term," explains Schäfer. "The concentration of fluoride and other pollutants, however, is balanced as soon as more water passes the filter again. Hence, the water is completely safe."

ROSI was initially developed by Schäfer and Richards in Australia, before further work on it was carried out in Scotland. Field tests for the system were planned at at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology in Tanzania, and test were carried out earlier this year in Mdori, amongst other places. The results of the tests are currently being analyzed at KIT. The next stage for the tests will be for ROSI to be installed at selected locations.

Source: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

5 comments
5 comments
The Skud
I hope, for the sake of the villagers, this or similar schemes can succeed. I question however, the longish term viability without the trained technicians to run it. How "village idiot" or theft-proof (panels, pumps etc) can it be made? A good pump system and a solar still (boil water, condense steam, rinse out every so often) method might be the way to go. Storing water for overnight needs is fairly simple.
BigGoofyGuy
While I think this is really cool, I agree with the other post. It seems very complicated. Perhaps a simpler way to boil water and condense it to another container? It would be like how they make Smart Water; boil water to make into steam which is condensed and saved. Perhaps it could be similar to the ones that are used to make moon shine (without the alchol)?
cwolf88
Reverse osmosis tends to be relatively slow and requires maintenance.
The Deka Research and Development Ekocenter uses solar power to distill pure water (realizing you don't want to drink pure water without any minerals).
The history of high tech solutions in low tech communities is full of problems/failures. It is why folks are shifting to piggyback on existing trade/distribution/sales systems in the hope that local folks with incentives can support these systems.
pmshah
RO in this system is useful only for the purpose of salinity removal / reduction. What you end up with is close to distilled water, not very healthy. On the other hand yield of RO is only around 20 %, rest is wasted in higher salinity state.
I use a 3 cartridge system at home for drinking water. The first one is purely mechanical filter for removing suspended and non soluble particulates. The second one is an ultra filtration cartridge which removes bacteria and viruses. The third one is activated charcoal cartridge which removes chlorine / fluorine and bad odour/taste. This requires only 10 feet of head which can be managed my manual pumps. No electricity required ! The whole system requires minimum maintenance. Simply flushing the outside of the first cartridge by bypassing through a small tap. It also has a 7 liter storage tank and a float valve to keep this filled with usage. Haven't had even an upset stomach ever since I installed it, just over 3 years ago.
S Michael
The Skud has it right... As soon as the "test" or "research" group leave, thieves come in and it is carried away to the highest bidder or overlord. A total waste of money and time.