MIT Unveils Portable, Solar-Powered Water Desalination System

An anonymous reader writes "A team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Field and Space Robotic Laboratory has designed a new solar-powered water desalination system to provide drinking water to disaster zones and disadvantaged parts of the planet. Desalination systems often require a lot of energy and a large infrastructure to support them, but MIT's compact system is able to cope due to its ingenious design. The system's photovoltaic panel is able to generate power for the pump, which in turn pushes undrinkable seawater through a permeable membrane. MIT's prototype can reportedly produce 80 gallons of drinking water per day, depending on weather conditions."

Comments

You need 30 liters a day?

[SmallFurryCreature]

My god man, your bladder must be made of steel.

Or are you that alienated from the real world that you think people in disasters zones first priority is a daily long hot shower and flushing toilets?

Yes, we use a LOT of water in the west because... well because we can. When the shit hits the fan, 3-5 liters a day can and must be enough. And that is actually a rather liberal amount. Enough to drink, do some cleaning and cook. No it won't give you a life of comfort but guess what, it isn't. It is disaster relief. Not disaster go away. That comes when the normal systems are replaced. If they ever were there in the first place.

You do know that some people have to carry their water for miles by hand? Do you REALLY think these people carry 30 liters a day for every person? What next, you are going to complain a disaster relief food package doesn't contain Ben & Jerry icecream and that just won't do? Entitled, you sure seem to think you are.