April 18, 2022
The data on access to drinking water across Chile is worrying.
At the recent meeting of members of Climatech, a trade association of companies that promote the use of clean technologies to reduce environmental impact, the startups “Arcom”, specializing in modular architecture and construction, and “Remote Waters”, specializing in water purification, had the opportunity to highlight a problem in Chilean regulations: the water sanitation regulations only recognize chlorine as an option for making water potable, leaving out other more efficient and less polluting technologies, such as UV rays or ozone.
According to Natalia Sepúlveda, representative of “Arcom”: “This can provide a small-scale water purification solution for the most remote rural areas, which, due to their isolation, do not have the option of accessing drinking water continuously.”
The U.S. Water Quality Association reported that ultraviolet (UV) water disinfection has long been popular for commercial use and is becoming more common in homes. UV systems expose water to light at the appropriate wavelength to kill microbes. This is a way to kill bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and cysts that may be present in the water. The system's effectiveness depends on the strength and intensity of the light, the amount of time the light shines through the water, and, of course, the amount of particles in the water to begin with. The light source must be kept clean, and the UV lamp should be replaced periodically. Ultraviolet light treatment cannot remove gases, heavy metals, or particulate matter. For this reason, high-end systems may include additional filtration, such as activated carbon. If so, this means that these filters will need to be cleaned or replaced occasionally, or other maintenance will need to be performed.
Pablo Cassorla, for his part, stated: “Chlorine must be supplied within a precise range; exceeding the dosage poses serious health risks to humans, making it difficult to handle. Furthermore, it is a corrosive chemical and potentially dangerous in high concentrations. UV rays, on the other hand, are applied through a lamp that emits a beam of light that eliminates all bacteriological material and does not add chemicals to the water's composition, making it easier to use. Each lamp lasts 9,000 hours and requires fewer supplies, therefore, it is more economical. However, despite its advantages, it is still not recognized by the health authority.”
“In our experience providing infrastructure for small food producers in remote areas, we see that they are eager to start their own businesses and improve their conditions, but without access to water they cannot obtain health permits, much less formalize their operations,” said Natalia Sepúlveda.
Currently, both startups are coordinating to work on the design of an autonomous modular processing room, with a sustainable sanitary system focused on the purification and treatment of greywater, using “Remote Waters” technology.