Watercone-a new product patented by a German industrial designer has been successfully demonstrated to produce potable water in the desert area. Watercones are produced from Polycarbonate sheets of 1.5 mm thickness. Watercone works on a simple principle: Sunlight through transparent PC wall of a cone evaporates water from dirty or brackish water, collecting as clean water in the black pan under the cone. The black colour of the pan facilitates the absorption of sunlight. Evaporated water condenses on the inner walls of the watercone, runs down the side walls and collects in a trough at the base. Inverting the cone permits water to be poured out from a screw cap at the center of the cone.

The principle underlying the construction of the watercone is very good, and could prove its worth in the purification of contaminated water or desalination of sea water. The quality of the harvested water is very good. The watercone has been quickly accepted by the users thus far, is sturdy and offers ease in handling. The emergence of the sea as a new source for the easy production of good drinking water, if developed further, can provide a solution for water supply in difficult areas.

The present cost to manufacture this thermoformed watercone is quite high and could prove as a prohibitive factor. Will this concept get translated into a commercial success to be of great value to a World where 20% of the people do not have an access to portable water? The answer will be dependent on a long term testing results and solutions to a few problems faced. The outcome will be dependent on continuous testing, as the long term efficiency and sustainability of a watercone-based drinking water supply needs more testing. Long term testing involves trial of larger number of watercones, a testing period that covers all seasons of the year and    testing carried out more diverse locations.

It will be more months of testing that will eventually determine the commercial outcome of the Watercone.