Solar panels power fresh water desalination MobileMax system

With sea levels going up and potable water becoming scarcer, water sanitization systems are gaining more importance.

Large scale desalination stations are now being built in Australia. But for residents in remote places experiencing prolonged drought, the only alternative is for water to be transported.

Currently, the US-based World Water and Solar Technologies offers the renewable energy-powered solution, MobileMax. Utilizing solar cells, water pumping and distillation technologies, the system can provide immediate solution for power and water problems in remote locations, as well as emergency response to water scarcity - such as experienced during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

MobileMax had already been tested on several disaster events. The unit was earlier installed in a refugee camp in Darfur, helping stop the spread of cholera in crowded areas. Two more MobileMax water cleansing systems were also used during the aftermath of a devastating Haitian hurricane in 2008.

Three MobileMax models offer diverse solutions for different scenarios: one for contaminated fresh water, another for saline water and a MaxPure model that can turn sea water into drinking water.

MaxPure can supply at least 11,000 litres of clean water daily, sufficient to provide drinking water to thousands of residents during emergency conditions. The unit generates electricity as well to power lights and electronic equipments.

Weighing 2.8 tonnes, but tiny enough to be hauled on a trailer, MaxPure is powered by 18 solar panels. The unit has a combined power capacity of 3.4 kW and stores its energy on a 31kWh AGM/Gel deep cycle battery bank. MaxPure is also capable of filtering sea water containing 45,000 parts per million of dissolved sediments and solids.