Water supply is a problem
Clean water is one of the basic building blocks of life. Our bodies are comprised of about 60% of water, we need around 3-3.5 liters of water a day, and every living thing needs water to exist! Humans are no exception.
In many countries worldwide, there are complications with finding clean drinking water. While we in first-world countries have the privilege of having clean drinking water readily available in water bottles or water fountains everywhere, much of the world’s population struggles to find water that isn’t polluted or extremely expensive to procure.
The United Nations released a report weeks ago that stated that 26% of the world’s population does not have access to clean water. As well as 46% do not have access to proper sanitation. On a humanitarian front, this is a failure of society to support all people and provide equality of opportunity to have a fundamental need of life. From a technological perspective, we have a lot of work to do. In this blog, we will explore an incredible technological tool, that is providing the citizens of Lima, Peru with clean water.
Effects of pollution and absence of clean water
Before we talk about innovation, let’s first talk about the effects of consuming polluted water. Ingestion of contaminated water can lead to a variety of conditions and illnesses. Gastrointestinal illnesses can be contracted from viruses, bacteria, and parasites which can be fatal if not treated. Infections of the skin, bladder, stomach, and throat can also be contracted from unclean water and lead to vomiting and other afflictions. Without clean water, chronic illness like kidney and liver failure is common and can lead to death.
Innovation!
Now on a better note. As technology has progressed and led to more advancements in all areas. Basic human needs have not been forgotten. Food has been genetically altered to provide more quantity, quality, and variety to reduce famine. Shelters are constantly being improved, along with many other necessities for a healthy life.
For this blog, we will focus on one innovation from UTEC, the University of Technology and Engineering in Lima, Peru. Students addressed the large need for potable water in the community by creating a billboard. Yes, the billboard allows for better knowledge of the issue of clean water in Lima’s community but inside is the tech. They implemented a water condenser and filtration system inside the billboard that takes moisture from the air and converts it into drinkable water for the community.
Lima, Peru is located at the edge of the Atacama desert and receives very little rainfall leaving the land very dry and hot. But Lima’s Pacific coast location has air containing up to 90% humidity in summer months. While the air moisture is great, the people of Lima resort to using unsanitary wells to bring up their daily water.
The students at UTEC created a water-producing billboard that sucks moisture from the air for Lima’s population. The billboard produces over 96 liters of water a day and can produce more on the more humid summer days. The cost of the billboard was $1200 to install which could be replicated all over the world for its purpose. With the billboard actively producing water, many citizens have fresh drinking water and the ability to use well water, not for other uses rather than drinking. This simple innovation is helping the community along with providing advertising to help humanitarian efforts and UTEC admissions.
More water supply technology 
Along with water-filtering billboards, a wind turbine in Abu Dhabi is also taking moisture out of the air and producing more than 1400 liters of water each day. The possibilities for this technology are endless with many recent innovations in purification, reverse osmosis machines, UV purification, desalination, and water reuse.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading and don’t forget about people less fortunate than yourself, Even in the United States 2 million people don’t have access to clean water, and in other countries rates are much higher. With technology, advancements can come many benefits for all people and use that we haven’t imagined. Hopefully someday our generation can continue the work and make the world a better and healthier place for everyone.
Charlie super cool post! I feel like water supply issues are not talked about enough seeing as we are fortunate enough to always have a supply of clean water. This billboard technology sounds really cool and could be a good way of solving this issue for places with drier climates. I would love to see other technologies that could also help in other areas.
Hi Charlie! Great blog post. I feel like the lack of clean water isn’t talked about enough, and I definitely believe we have many technological solutions that could help out. Your blog post was extremely informative, and I had no idea that a water billboard even existed. I really hope that other countries, and organizations like the UN, take initiative and perhaps place water billboards all over the world. I feel like it can really help out the entire world. I’m looking forward to seeing where water billboards go.
Yeah! Especially in climates that have a lot of moisture in the air, they could be incredibly useful. A lot of coastal third-world countries have a very humid environment but the oceans are salty and don’t have access to much desalination machinery. This could be a useful thing!
Charlie this is fascinating. I did not realize this problem was so prevalent throughout the world. This is an incredible application of technology this will provide so many people with an opportunity to drink clean water. I do know there are some water issues in the US as well, so there could be use in even first-world nations.
Thank you for drawing attention to this important topic. This class has taught me that entrepreneurship is truly seeing a problem and solving it. This is a great example of that thought process. Someone saw the problem of a lack of clean water and the billboard helps solves that problem. Genius!
This was awesome to read Charlie! Having gone to Central America this past summer, I immediately saw that ease of access to drinking water was difficult all throughout different areas. It’s fascinating how the students were able to come about this solution to portable water and all for $1200! I hope to see this technology in other areas of the world soon
This post was awesome to read about! Knowing that their is 2 million people in the US that do have access to clean water, I hope that they can implement this technology within the US in the regions that need it. Not only just the US, but I hope this technology is able to spread world wide and put a stop to the lack of clean water.
Yes! We are very fortunate to not have this struggle as much as other countries. But we can use your technology innovations to help everyone around the world who are less fortunate than we are.
Interesting post Charlie! This is an incredible innovation. So many people go without water, and it is amazing how these students were able to come up with cost-effective solution. .I’m looking forward to seeing how this develops, and maybe this could be implemented in other countries!
What a cool post. I am a big fan of innovation that comes from areas that you might not expect it. There’s really innovative stuff happening around the world, and thanks for bringing one of them to our attention.
Hi Charlie, it is crazy to think that 1 out of every 4 people on the planet don’t have access to clean drinking water. This is incredible that a water billboard not only brings the topic to the forefront but implements a way to filter water in and of itself.
Yea it is an awesome solution for a very prevalent problem in the world!
Hey Charlie! This is such a cool post especially since I will be visiting Peru this summer! It is amazing to see how this innovation works and it’s positive impact for the people in Lima, Peru. I did not know how creative people could get with billboards, and I hope to see more of these in much needed areas around the world.
Great post Charlie. It’s great to see a community come together via technology to solve an issue they are facing. The water crisis in the world is a problem that will surely see some innovation.
Great blog post! It’s inspiring to see how innovative technology can be used to solve real-world problems and improve the lives of people in need. The water-producing billboard created by UTEC is an excellent example of how creativity and ingenuity can be applied to address one of the most basic and fundamental human needs.