>> H2Ox
The problem we hope to solve
Billions of people around the world lack access to clean water. While reliable and safe drinking water is critical to health and livelihoods, a large proportion of purification solutions are either dependent on charitable donations, unaffordable or non-functional due to high maintenance requirements. In order to overcome these barriers, waterforall devised an innovative market-based model to sell safe, affordable, and reliable water to low-income communities.
Water contamination is a global challenge. Over 137 million people in over 70 countries drink water poisoned by naturally occurring Arsenic – referred to as the ‘largest mass poisoning in history’ by the WHO (WHO, 2007). In India alone, over 100 million people do not have access to clean water. Availability of clean water is plagued by lack of infrastructure while current solutions are too expensive to install, operate, and maintain.
Our solution
Our solution involves installing solar powered water kiosks (which we call ‘solar water houses’) that dispense safe drinking water on a per litre basis at an affordable price where it is most needed. We use world-class and patented purification technologies able to significantly reduce the poisonous content of the water, and provide affordable, decentralised and secure water distribution. By creating a strong financial incentive for local entrepreneurs to install and operate the system, the solar water house will become inherently sustainable.
Our unique advantages
- Our innovative, market-based model for clean water access
- Our access and expertise in capacitative deionisation water filtration technology
- Strong technical and community partnerships established
- An interdisciplinary and complementary team with expertise in engineering, water science, policy, law and management
Our progress and recognition so far
- Solar Water House design completed
- Partnerships initiated
- Pilot project in Summer 2016
- Wolfson Innovation Prize (£1000); Griffiths Award (£500); Skoll Leading for Impact
The team
Valerio Pereno, Project Manager
Valerio is a DPhil student in Biomedical Engineering. Prior to Oxford, he worked at the Centre for Robotics Research (CORE). He has experience working in manufacturing, financial restructuring and water technologies research organisations and collaborated with Minmahaw Education Foundation, an organisation which aims to educate the disadvantaged Burmese youth. Valerio received an MSc in Biomedical Engineering from the university of Oxford, an MEng in Mechatronics and AKC from King’s College London and studied abroad at the university of Hong Kong and National University of Singapore.
Bhumi Purohit, Field Expert
Bhumi is currently reading for an MSc in Contemporary India Studies program with a focus on poverty and human development within the country. Her previous experience includes piloting microfinance and agricultural trials as a Program Associate at One Acre Fund, a non-profit that provides inputs to small-scale farmers through credit with the aim of helping them achieve food security. Prior to working with One Acre Fund, Bhumi was an AIF Clinton Fellow in India where she co-founded Green Leaf, a supply chain to directly connect organic farmers with an exclusive market. She is passionate about the impact business principles can have within the social and public sectors.
Rodolfo Salvador, Water Science
Rodolfo is a Weidenfeld Scholar reading for an MSc in Water Science, Policy and Management at Oxford. Previously, he obtained a degree in civil engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He currently leads the Mexican Federation of Engineering Colleges and the Association of Engineering Leaders United for Mexico also is currently serving as a consultant for the State of Mexico Water Commission.
Oliver Vince, Engineer
Oliver Vince is an undergraduate studying Engineering Science. With a particular interest in bio-medical engineering, he has extensive experience at working in successful projects to achieve a wide range of goals.
Harris Vince, Engineer
Harris is an undergraduate studying Engineering Science. Harris has valuable experiences in product design and manufacturing. He has travelled extensively in parts of the developing world, particularly in medical scenarios and has worked in hospitals, both in the UK and abroad. He has been responsible for all CAD so far.
Kunal Sharma, Legal
Kunal is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Civil Law (masters program) at the University of Oxford, where he is a Rhodes Scholar. Before coming to Oxford, Kunal obtained BAand LLB degrees from the University of New South Wales in Australia and practised at the commercial law firm Herbert Smith Freehills. Kunal has previously held a number of strategic, administrative and leadership roles in aid projects in Australia.
Sian McGibbon, Legal
As an undergraduate reading law, Sian has a keen interest in the impact legal policy can have on international development. Through her work with Oxford Lawyers without Borders, the Oxford iGEM team, and the Hub Charity network she has gained some experience of policy research with a focus on comparative and international law.
Technology
Capacitive Deionisation is a novel and disruptive water treatment technology that uses pairs of porous carbon material assembled as a super capacitor to attract ions to its surface. The technology is widely cited as one of the most efficient in terms of water, energy, chemical and pretreatment requirements. H2Ox is one of the first adopters of Capacitive Deionisation for ionic treatment of water in lowincome settings.
A completely automated three-step cycle will purify water on a continuous basis. The only maintenance required is a daily microinjection of citric acid, with no negative externalities on health or the environment. The system requires a basic form of pretreatment in the form of filters to remove suspended impurities. The technology has been validated extensively in industrial settings such as the galvanic, wastewater and medical sector with over 300 installations.
Partners
Idropan Dell’Orto Depuratori is a water technology pioneer and has operated in this sector for almost 50 years. Idropan developed capacitive deionisation technology to remove ionic substances from water with low power, minimal maintenance and without chemicals. Idropan has filed more than 12 patents relating to the technology and has agreed to assist H2Ox in every aspect of the design of the system
Aquasphere is based in Bangalore and provides water technologies for both industrial and drinking water applications. Aquasphere showcases an impressive track record of wastewater and raw water installations and also has a detailed knowledge of water problems affecting low-income communities in India. Aquasphere has made contact with local NGOs specialised in the provision of clean water in order to provide a bridge with the local community in terms of user-interface requirements, technology acceptance and long term sustainability.