search
Changemakers.net

Changemakers Forum:
Entry:WATER FOR THE POOR


Comment, question and collaborate below, or



login or register to post comments

by ahmed ismail me... on April 19, 2008 - 10:29

dear all
just to say that my project has just nominated for the high tech award USA
Ahmed

by ahmed ismail me... on April 19, 2008 - 10:25

Dear:-Mr THAKAR greetings from Egypt
Sorry for delaying response,your idea is very ambitious however even if you find a suitable method for purifying the mixture, you have to test the water each time to insure quality which may be expensive, may I suggest filtering the mixture you mentioned and re use the water for flushing the toilets, it can be possible also to reuse what is called gray water (water that uses for washing hands) for flushing toilets by connecting discharge tube with the siphon, hoping that may be help, wishing success for your ambitious project
Best regards
Ahmed

by M.S.Thakar on March 25, 2008 - 09:21

Would your innovation be useful in incorporating in a public toilet generating about 40 litres of faeces, urine and wash water mixture?How much Solar power wattage would it require to convert the mixture to bacteria/virus free water for direct discharge into the earth from the toilet cabin?
If you like you can see my competition submission of March 22 entitled "What a Crappy Idea" and see the toilet cabin at www.thakareqpt.com.
Regards
M.S.Thakar

by ahmed ismail me... on February 26, 2008 - 10:50

Hello Dana: - I wish to thank you very much
Maintenance:-
This system designed to work with virtually no efforts from user, when the system be used to distill arsenic or salt water, the small amount of pollutants that estimated by about 1 microgram per liter (arsenic water), 35 parts per thousand (salt water) is so small that cause no effect on the performance of the system, in the same time the system provided with a maintenance tape to be use for flushing the contaminates automatically
- When it's necessary the system is easy to disassemble, in the same time we used a simple technology that possible to suit the capabilities of any of the rural communities, so the system hasn't any electric or electronic parts, and use no metal tubs as we use a small diameter plastic hose instead that reduces the need for maintenance considerably

We have already selected partners in the targeted communities; we gave the priority to the university graduated women that have already a perfect knowledge about the solar water heater technology, our qualified partner is responsible about assembling the system, MAINTENANCE, and installation which means that much of money will circulate in the community to generate local prosperity, increase confidence in the technology and assure sustainability

-the partner provided with skills, knowledge to assemble, install, operate and Maintain the system, ,is responsible about helping local people to understand the technology giving them better information about its potential and the benefits .
The system designed to be possible to manufacture, and deliver to the users in parts, that possible to decrease the price and the cost of storage and transportation, assembling the system and installing is the responsibility of our partner in the village, which mean that much of money will circulate in the community to generate local prosperity, that possible also to increases confidence in the technology and assures sustainability
thank you very much

by ahmed ismail me... on February 25, 2008 - 17:32

with my system, putting in mind that many of the poor have to live in less that 2 $ per day), not just the cost but also the technology, and how can we ask the rural poor to pay for technologies that considered expensive by users in the rich industrialized countries, what are the reasons of the very low level of adaptation of the existing technologies of solar energy globally why the solar energy technologies are not successful commercially?, is the technologies that developed in the industrialized countries are possible to suit the style of life and socioeconomic realities in the developing countries ? Why the attempts to force these technologies in these communities failed although of the many attractive financing options? , and I want to confirm that my new technology built on a long hard work for so many years not just an idea, many outstanding technical details have not published yet, if you may re visit my space you will notice that I have added dozens of advantages in my new technology (and that is not all) and I hope to get your point of view
- How much it cost to implement the project, and financing?
I have already prepared a suitable place in one of the deserts cities in Egypt to be center for the project and we got qualified partners in the targeted communities (university qualified women ) that will be responsible about penetrating the new technology and all other purposes as maintenance , installation, ------
The problem of safe water is a global problem that many organizations around the globe are interested to solve it, so I hope to get financial support, the cost depends on manufacturing the system on a small or large scale, that depends on the money that may be available, my letter of intend has already accepted by an American organization, and I have participated in many of the international competitions hopping to get support to be able to manufacture the system in a commercial scale so reducing the cost

by ahmed ismail me... on February 25, 2008 - 17:28

Dear Dana: - thank you very much for your message
I regret that I can't understand your first question; I hope you may explain it
2-who is qualified to fix this products?
- My point of view that the competitions are the best way to get evaluation for a new idea, invention, or product where you put your product between the hands of experts:-
-its a great honor for me that my new technology (version 1) to be awarded by the Arab Organization For Industrialization that is the largest multinational industrial organization in Egypt as it selected from 700 participants , after one year of hard work several interviews with the AOI experts, Prof, Dr, engineers, technicians, (who are the top in Egypt)
-am so proud that my new technology (version 1) to be classified by the UN-HABITAT as one of the promising practices in 2006 international competition.
- I have evaluations (messages) from experts' institutions and organizations from different countries that evaluated my new technology as workable and very interested; one of them is a great center for solar energy technology in Romania
- this is not just a product the matter connected with millions of persons around the globe particularly children that lost their life's so simply and in silence due to water related diseases, and my questions ;-is not there a need for new specific technologies that possible to suit the style of life of the poor?, what are the practical options those children that consumes chemically contaminated water since birth( arsenic water that kills painfully and slowly in Bengal INDIA ) please tell me just one successful affordable ,option , if the existing technologies are effective why millions of persons globally particularly children lost their life(child die every 15 seconds) every year due to water related diseases , may I ask you to compare my 40 $ multipurpose system by may I ask you to compare my 40 $ multipurpose system by the existing technologies, solar water heater and water distillation systems (please calculate the cost of both andmay I ask you to compare my 40 $ multipurpose system by the existing technologies, solar water heater and water distillation systems (please calculate the cost of both and compare with

by water washer on February 21, 2008 - 11:32

Dear Ahmed Abdallah,

I salute you for your dedication and passion. Your innovative technology is quite interesting and I wish you success in your efforts.

Warm regards,
Brian

by ahmed ismail me... on February 21, 2008 - 12:57

Dear Brain
Thank you very much for your message that was a source of encouragement, and gave me power to going on,
dear sir;- whatever the cost and efforts i will go on to prove that also individuals have the ability to make a difference in the world, what i have achived is just the first step and AM STILL HAVE A DREAM
hopping you will follow my space, what I published is not all, my technology has many surprises that I will publish in the due time.
best regards
Ahmed

by ahmed ali hassan on February 21, 2008 - 08:20

Hellow Ahmed
may you please give more details about the technologyand the cost of your system
thank you

by ahmed ismail me... on February 21, 2008 - 12:44

Dear Ahmed: - thank you very much for your message
A-the cost: - the system designed to be possible to deliver to users in parts to reduce the cost of storage and transportation, in mass production the cost of a one unit of the collector, fittings and the small control tank with a condenser is targeted to be less than 40 $, the storage tank is already available in the market, but it can be made by user or with the help of our partner in the community, from different materials to reduce the cost
The technology:- the system depends on a new technology that we called water flow rate control as user is possible to control on hot water temperature without the need for electricity, he can reduce or increase WFR to increase water temperature or increase the amount of hot water according to the seasonal changes and intensity of solar radiation in the location, also he can increase number of collectors and keeping on the same water flow rate to increase the efficiency of the system as a distiller or to get the same amount of hot water in a higher temperature without need to increase the storage volume(concentrating the collected amount of solar thermal energy in a controlled amount of water), no thermal stratification is needed , no energy reverse or stagnation condition, is possible to be happened , direct thermal contact between the collector and water to increase efficiency, possibility to control on water consumption, self cleaning, no electric or electronic parts, the storage tank can be placed inside the building to avoid cooling of warm water by wind, low installation coast, multipurpose that increase the financial viability , supplying water in a relatively constant temperature, User is possible to with draw water from the tank even in the case that no cold water processed to the system, easy installation ,self maintenable, replicable, and more and more and more in the developed versions

by indersud on February 17, 2008 - 08:37

George Washington University
Faculty
Without knowing the details of your proposal - the technology, costs, assumptions on adaptation, running costs, etc., it is difficult to comment on your proposal. Can you provide more details?

by ahmed ismail me... on February 17, 2008 - 10:17

Hello Indersud
Thank you very much for your message, please note that I haven't enough space area to answer all of your questions
At first I want to draw your kind attention that my system is much more than a SWH or even a water purification system,but we can compare my new technology with the existing SWH technologies:-Natural circulation system, forced circulation system
For so many reasons these technologies will still useful only for those who can afford to adopt them and will remain out of reach of most people particularly those needy people who live in the rural communities of the developing countries , in fact both have several disadvantages that contributes in reducing the efficiency as processing cold water to the storage tank even after sunset that useful heat gain achieves zero, perfect thermal stratification is not possible to achieve in the storage tank make it not possible to extract temperature at the top of the tank and reduces collection efficiency from the collector due to high collector inlet fluid temperature, the energy reverse at night, the high cost , the heavy load , electric and electronic parts, high installation cost------
My new technology called WATER FLOW RATE CONTROL SYSTEM is created not only to provide technical affordable solutions for these problems,or for just heating and purifing water but also we added several advantages that not even available in the existing expensive technologies, to make poor people pay willingly to get the system, in the same time we introduced several options (designs) that possible to meet the different standard of living and the different needs of user
THE COST :- please just calculate how much a poor family that live in one of the rural community of a developing country need to pay to get a SWH ,a solar water distiller(maintenanc-area) and how much they pay for boiling water to make it safe or the cost of health care due of water related diseases, sorry i have no space

by danafrasz on February 5, 2008 - 15:59

Hello Amhed, Could you give a few more details about your three-in-one product? How much will it cost? How will it be produced? How do you plan to market and distribute it? Where will people find out about it and be able to purchase it? Will there be any subsidies for the poor who may not be able to afford it? Thanks
Dana Frasz
Changemakers

by ahmed ismail me... on February 6, 2008 - 10:16

Hello Dana: - thank you very much for your message
The cost of the product in one of our main concern and if you may re visit my space you will notice that there are 8 versions for the system became available, the goal is to suit the different circumstances and standard of livings of users, when we mentioned cost we have to compare the cost of this new technology with existing technologies putting in mind that my system has many new advantages that even not available in the existing expensive technology, is multipurpose that increases the financial viability , what is published about the system is not all , the system designed to be able to pay for itself quickly, and its of relatively of very low cost as it has no electric and electronic parts , we prepared a place in one of the new deserts cities in Egypt to be the center for manufacturing the system as soon as we may get financial support, and we put a plain for marketing and distribution:-
A-Technology penetration and increasing social acceptance of the developed technology
-we have already selected a partner in some of the desert villages (we gives the priority to the university graduated women as engineers and those who have previous experience in the SWH technology),
-the partner will be provided with skills, knowledge to assemble, install, operate and maintain the system, will be responsible about helping local people to understand the technology giving them better information about its potential and the benefits
B-Manufacture
- We will use different locally available materials of different qualities to suit the different standards of living, putting quality of the system as our main concern
-benefiting the community local labor
The system designed to be possible to manufacture, and deliver to the users in parts, that possible to decrease the price and the cost of storage and transportation, assembling the system and installing is the responsibility of our partner in the village, which mean that much of money will circulate in the community to generate local prosperity, that possible also to increases confidence in the technology and assures sustainability
Will there be any subsidies for the poor who may be not able to afford it?
- I hope to draw the attention of the international organizations as UNDP-UNIP-WB - that are possible to support my efforts so I will be able to manufacture the system in mass production to reduce the cost and introduce subsidies for the poor

by danafrasz on February 25, 2008 - 13:57

Hello Ahmed,
What systems do you have in place to address malfunctions and broken devices? What happens when the technology breaks? Who is qualified to fix these products? How do you deal with maintenance.
Also, how much does it cost to implement this "three in one" device? How are you financing it?
You mention that you are financing this project out of your personal savings. This does not seem like a sustainable financial model. Can you give more of a description of how you plan to finance this work for the long term? Thanks

Thanks
Dana Frasz

by cillanes on January 25, 2008 - 12:16

George Washington University, current student, student ambassador

You mention financing as a problem, but how do you intend to educate and train populations about the use and availability of your product if you recieved financing? How are you going to disperse the units? Are you planning on selling your idea to an NGO and letting them market it?

by ahmed ismail me... on January 25, 2008 - 14:11

dear friend thank you very much for your message
if i recived financing:-
A-Technology penetration and increasing social acceptance of the developed technology
-we have already selected a partner in some of the desert villages (we gives the priority to the university graduated women as engineers and those who have previous experience in the SWH technology),
-the partner will be provided with skills, knowledge to assemble, install, operate and maintain the system, will be responsible about helping local people to understand the technology giving them better information about its potential and the benefits
B-Manufacture
- We will use different locally available materials of different qualities to suit the different standards of living
-benefiting the community local labor
The system designed to be possible to manufacture, and deliver to the users in parts, that possible to decrease the price and the cost of storage and transportation, assembling the system and installing is the responsibility of our partner in the village, which mean that much of money will circulate in the community to generate local prosperity, that possible also to increases confidence in the technology and assures sustainability
-please note:-1- I DESIGNED 2 DESIGNES FOR WATER PURIFICATION , I DIDNT KNOW WHO TO CONTACT,SO I DECIDED TO USE ONE OF THEM TO GET FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT POSSIBLE TO BE USE FOR BOTH, BUT TECHNICAL DETAILS FOR THE SECOND ONE(THE PRINCIPAL PROJECT) THAT IS MUCH IMPROTANT AND GREAT STILL NOT YET PATENTED OR ANNOUNCED, I DECIDED TO USE THE FIRST PROJECT TO PARTICIPATE IN AS MUCH AS COMPETITIONS HOPPING TO GET AS MUCH AS RECOGNATION THAT POSSIBLE TO DRAW THE ATTENTION AND HELPS ME TO GET SUPPORT FOR MY NEXT GREAT PROJECT.
AM WILLING TO PUPLISH TECHNICAL DETAILS FOR MY SECOND PROJECT BUT NOT BEFORE GETTING AN AWARD FOR SEVERAL YEARS OF HARD WORKING
2- my space does not include full technical details even about my first project and if i get a chance in this competition , i will puplish outstanding technical details about it
thank you very much

by cillanes on January 25, 2008 - 12:17

George Washington University, current student, student ambassador