Aqueous Solutions Technology Removes Chemicals From Drinking Water

by Tim Patterson

The presence of dangerous chemicals in drinking water is a serious health problem in many parts of the world, especially in countries like Thailand, where heavy use of toxic pesticides is commonplace and regulations are lax.

For the residents of Pun Pun Farm, a sustainability center in the North of Thailand, the problem of chemical contamination of local water supplies is acute. 

Pun Pun strives to function as a living example of sustainability, and has attracted international renown for programs in natural building, organic farming and local self-reliance.

Sadly, although a stream runs through Pun Pun’s property, the stream water is contaminated with a carcinogenic cocktail of pesticide run-off from other farms.

For years, Pun Pun residents were forced to buy clean water that was trucked to the farm in plastic jugs – an unsustainable and financially burdensome solution to an intractable problem.

A Local Solution

This February, Pun Pun was chosen as the test-site for a new water filtration system designed by Aqueous Solutions, an award-winning organization whose scientists and engineers develop low-cost technologies to provide clean drinking water to communities worldwide.

Although established methods for removing harmful chemicals from drinking water already exist, the challenge for Aqueous Solutions was to develop a system for Pun Pun that would be effective, cost-efficient and simple enough for locals to replicate with existing materials.

The magic ingredient in the Pun Pun’s new filtration system? Charcoal.

After being filtered through gravel and sand to remove particles of organic matter, the water passes through a simple charcoal filter.

Pesticides and other dangerous chemicals stick to the charcoal, and clean drinking water flows out the tap.

From Farm To Laboratory: A Global Collaboration

Although water is already flowing through the new filtration system, Pun Pun residents aren’t quenching their thirst quite yet. The effectiveness of the new technology must be proven in a lab before the water is deemed safe to drink.

In an inspiring example of global cooperation, scientists from Kasetsart University in Bangkok, North Carolina State University, and the University of California-Berkeley are currently testing water samples to measure just how well the charcoal removed chemicals during the filtration process.

If the lab results are encouraging, Aqueous Solutions personnel hope to promote the construction of similar filtration systems throughout Thailand, aided by a generous grant from the Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation.

“With the characterization of different charcoal materials at the molecular level, plus an array of benchtop-scale experiments we’ve planned for this year, we’ll have the scientific data necessary to have full confidence in a precisely designed water filtration system,” commented Aqueous Solution’s Director Josh Kearns.

“With a few pretty simple and straightforward experiments, we’ll be able to put a simple and very inexpensive technology into the hands of folks around the world that will empower them to ensure their own access to safe drinking water,” Kearns added.

For a more detailed explanation of the scientific principles and engineering process behind Pun Pun’s water system, complete with photos and diagrams, you can download the technical paper “Pun Pun Farm Water System Construction Manual” from the Aqueous Solutions website, along with numerous other documents related to sustainability and self-reliance in drinking water purification.

Hey Matador friends - this was my first try at a press release, what do you think?  Aqueous is a fantastic grassroots organization that I'm proud to support - check out our annual report (pdf).