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.
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