Who knew the simple solar panel on your rooftop can also fetch you drinking water? But this is no more sci-fi. Zero Mass Water has invented the SOURCE solar hydropanel, which is a rooftop solar panel that produces water in addition to electricity.
The Global Drinking Water picture
According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), 663 million people (nearly 10% of the global population), do not have access to clean drinking water. According to the WHO, clean water may not only prevent diseases but also boost a country’s economy while lowering poverty. Poor infrastructure and tough living conditions have thus created a tremendous sociopolitical issue.
In this grim situation, innovations like Source can effectively address these issues as they are not bound to the cities owing to the complex piping network.
The Magic named Source
The water-producing panel is constructed of a Zero Mass Water-developed material that passively absorbs moisture from the air.
In an interview, Cody Friesen, the company’s CEO, draws the analogy of grains of rice placed inside salt shakers to describe their novel technology. The rice grains catch water more strongly than salt, thus preventing the salt from becoming wet and clumpy. Similarly, the constituent material in a Source panel absorbs water. Simultaneously, the accompanying solar panels collect the energy necessary to evaporate the water to clean it. Eventually, the water is passed through a mineral block, which increases the taste, as well as nutritional value of the water.
Solar Hydro-panels in Real Life
A typical SOURCE array consists of two hydropanels, with more panels added as needed for water production or the local climate, and this self-contained device is meant to be put onto a building’s roof, where it may create an average of 4-10 liters per day.
One Source device generates 5 liters of water each day on average, which may then be stored in a metal chamber with a 30-liter capacity. Inside the chamber, the water is enriched with magnesium and calcium, and the outflow channel can be directly connected to a tap or dispenser. Except for regular filter replacements and the replacement of the mineral cartridge every five years, according to the manufacturer, no maintenance is required.
Over its lifespan, the system will generate the equivalent of 43,800 bottles of water while producing no plastic waste, claims Zero Mass Water.
So, what’s the Fuel Cost
Undoubtedly, the SOURCE water generators are expensive, at with respect to the initial investment. A basic two-panel device costs approximately $4000, plus $500 for installation, and is designed to last at least ten years. When the cost is averaged throughout the life of the unit, it comes to around $1.23 per day, or between $0.12 and $0.30 per liter.
What about the Arid Areas
The company also assures that the device will work as well in low-humidity and dry areas, thus replying to the logical skeptics.
To illustrate they state that despite low relative humidity, the Source hydropanels at the Zero Mass Water headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, produce water throughout the year. In the summer, the Phoenix-Metro region experience relative humidity levels as low as 5%, yet SOURCE continues to generate water.
Bleak History and Hopeful Future
It is to be recalled that Source has not been the only sparkle in the horizon. Earlier innovative water generators were reported with substantial promises. For example, WaterSeer drew huge attention and skepticism, as well, but did not deliver fruits. On the other hand, the Ecoloblue gadgets, though more expensive and sophisticated, do exist and can be purchased and used. However, the initial reviews leave us hopeful that Source, along with comparable technologies such as Watly and Water-Gen, will help provide clean water to everyone on the planet.
